Dying Kindness

14/06/2024

Do you know what to do if you ever have to write an obituary? When you die, will others know what to write in your obituary? How does one write an obit anyway?

Check out the new podcast episode: How to Write an Obituary

So it's time to write an obituary. Who should do it and how? What needs to be included? What should be left out? Where does it go? What is an obituary for, anyway?

16/05/2024

Hello again. It's my birthday. And my gift to myself is to restart the podcast after nearly a year (and get going on All The Things). I share here some brief reflections on the importance of community and other things that I've learned over this last (very hard) year.

Hello! After a long while, I am restarting this podcast. Because it's my birthday and that's my present to my self (and to you).

07/10/2023

Ready for my big day at Congressional Cemetery! Their in-house death doula, Laura Lyster-Mensh, and I will be there from 10-12 to discuss all things death and dying. I am so excited to do this!

04/10/2023

If you're in the DC area: Cianna will be the featured guest this Saturday, October 7, at the Congressional Cemetery. It's part of their Death Doula Days series. If you're so inclined, please RSVP and join us!

No one likes to talk about dying, right? We do! Bring your curiosity, your courage, and a sense of humor as we sit around the table at the gatehouse (almost) every Saturday in 2023 to explore our worries and wonderment about mortality.

22/06/2023

As we wind up Pride month, I took a moment to think about the kinds of issues faced by LGBTQ seniors who are facing end of life issues. Some issues are particular to being q***r, and some are amplified versions of things that everyone faces.

A brief overview of the range of issues faced by LGBTQ seniors towards the end of life.

04/04/2023

It's almost time for Death: The Basics! It's a 6-part series that will leave you feeling more comfortable and informed when having conversations about death planning. It'll be online, weekly on Mondays at 3pm PST, April 10 - May 15.

https://DeathBasics-April2023.rsvpify.com

April 10, 2023 @ 3:00 PM -

28/02/2023

Hospice means changing the focus from cure to comfort, and is available when someone is not expected to live longer than 6 more months, if their condition follows a standard progression. To learn more about hospice, check out Episode 5

04/02/2023

https://www.dyingkindness.com/37-preventing-dementia-going-alcohol-free/

This year, I'll be doing more on the topic of "aging well." This is the first in that series, on trying to prevent dementia and the decision to go alcohol-free.

I want to do what I can to age well, including preventing getting dementia. I'm learning (and sharing) a range of steps to protect my brain. One of the b…

21/12/2022

I have come to understand how important it is that all of us become "death literate" – and how few opportunities we have to learn this stuff in a thoughtful way, not just when we have to go through it. Starting January 9, I am offering a six-part weekly workshop series called "Death: The Basics." People can sign up for the entire series or pick-and-choose individual session(s) as needed:

1: Becoming Death Literate
2: Writing Your Care Plans for Aging, Illness, Disability, and Dying
3: Understanding the Options for Disposition of Your Body
4: Designing Your Ideal Funeral/Memorial
5: Planning the Distribution of Your Assets
6: Considering Your Legacy

For details and to sign up: https://deathbasics.rsvpify.com

-

04/10/2022

Starting in 2027, natural organic reduction (aka "human composting") will be available in California! Governor Newsom signed AB 351 on September 18.

Human composting was legalized in California in September, 2022. Recompose plans to open a facility in California when the bill goes into effect in January 2027.

17/06/2022

Is your dad dead? Mine is. If you want to talk about your dad with others who understand, join me online this Sunday (aka "Father's Day") anytime between 3-5pm PST. We'll be in https://topia.io/death so you can join or leave anytime without disrupting the group, gather in small side conversations, or just sit quietly in community.

Sunday, June 19
3-5pm PST
https://topia.io/death

08/06/2022

If you're a caregiver, it's likely that at some point you're going to have to help manage finances. Do you have to use a Power of Attorney for Finances? Is it ok to just use a joint bank account? What's the difference and why would one be better than the other?

https://www.dyingkindness.com/23

For most of us, there will come a point when we'll need to have someone else help manage our finances. Two common approaches are to set up a joint bank a…

02/03/2022

Selecting the right Health Care Agent is a critical factor in ensuring that we get the kind of care we want when we're critically injured or nearing the end of our lives. Your agent will be responsible for implementing your Advance Healthcare Directive, and (even more) for understanding why you made the decisions you made so they can respond to unanticipated situations. How do you choose the right person? What, exactly, would you be asking them to do?

https://www.dyingkindness.com/18

Selecting the right Health Care Agent is a critical factor in ensuring that we get the kind of care we want when we're critically injured or nearing the …

24/02/2022

What do you enjoy doing? And what should you maybe do now so that you can keep doing that later, as you age?

https://www.dyingkindness.com/17-on-wanting-to-do-what-we-love-as-long-as-possible/

Thinking about dying has me thinking about aging. And as I took my aging body on a hike, I decided maybe it's time to get used to using hiking poles—and …

24/02/2022

What do you need to consider when choosing a cemetery or another final resting place? And who would find it inspiring to design their own tombstone?

https://www.dyingkindness.com/16-your-final-resting-place/

Do you want to be buried near your parents? Want your children to scatter your ashes at your favorite beach? Would your family visit your memorial tree i…

24/02/2022

Guidance on thinking through the question of burial vs cremation, and some alternatives.

https://www.dyingkindness.com/15-final-disposition-of-your-body/

Burial or Cremation? That question is important, yes, and it's not the only thing that needs to be decided about what will happen with your body after yo…

21/02/2022

Some people facing the death of a loved one have found this video helpful. What do you think of it?

Full video is 55 min. long, on bbc.co.uk/ideas (I haven’t watched the full one yet)

https://twitter.com/bbcideas/status/981071417914675200?s=21

“IMHO dying is not as bad as you think. Powerful piece from Doctor Kathryn Mannix on why we need to talk about death. https://t.co/Qe9RhSr9iT”

16/02/2022

A business podcast asked me to speak about how to make the workplace kinder when it comes to death and grief. This was a totally different conversation and I had such a great time talking with Shannon Cassidy. Take a listen to the Return on Generosity podcast! https://bridgebetween.com/episode-71-cianna-stewart-dying-kindly/