A new option on the death horizon?...

A friend of mine sent me a news article today that was an interesting read. Funeral homes are offering rooms for medically assisted deaths due to Covid-19 (which are legal in Canada and have been since 2016). They have been fielding requests for a quiet, comfortable place where someone can have MAID. Did you know that this is a great option, but at home can be great too?

Most people are unaware of the options a person has when it comes to dying, or they are afraid of the unknowns regarding it. Death Doulas are a great tool to have for having this conversation with weary family members, or to help ease your own tensions. At the location of your choosing, we can arrange every aspect of your plans, and allow you to pass in the comfort of your own location. We also help with arranging for transportation to and from for your body after you have passed and before, depending how you would like your body handled and how you wish for your body to be finalized. We can make sure that everyone feels at ease with your wishes, and that you pass the way you would like to.

Most people don't understand the steps involved in dying, and without the help of a professional (such as a death doula), they tend to panic. This is a completely normal human response to the unknown, but there is definitely a way to ease those worries. Barbara Karnes, RN (registered nurse), has published a wonderful series that I give to my clients when they are preparing for a loved ones passing. They are short, easy to read booklets that explain exactly the signs to look from the start of the dying process to the end. These booklets come in handy for education, but also in the case when a death doula can't be present. When we can be present, we can help guide you and your family through the death process and explain why things are happening, and what to prepare for. A large number of family members feel the desire to comfort their loved ones when they are getting to the physical steps of dying, and want to call 9-1-1 or bring them to the hospital.

While some people choose to die in a clinical setting, it usually isn't the desired option for most people. The same goes for long term care or hospices. Just because someone is living in these facilities, doesn't mean you have to die there too. I took a wonderful workshop with a lady named Pashta Mary Moon of Journeying Home, http://beyonds.ca/Journeying/home.html where she explained how wonderful it can be to have a home death and to be surrounded by your loved ones while it happens. Death doesn't need to be scary just because we are unaware of life beyond, or because we are unsure. We are here to help guide you.. Pashta introduced us to a wonderful family who were saying good bye to their elderly mom/grandma, and how they were skeptical at first about the process and were unsure if they wanted to participate in a home death. That was until their mom said it was her final wishes... Would you know.. that family now has been so moved by how she chose to pass, that they want the same for themselves now? They participated with every aspect of her death, including preparing her body for her final resting spot (washing, clothing etc) which is optional, but a wonderful bond and process.

So whether you choose a hospital, hospice, long term care facility, funeral home, home or somewhere else, just know that you and your loved ones have so many options. For both dying and final wishes for your body as well. If you are unsure of the types of options, feel free to reach out to us here at Chickadee Collective. We have a wonderful team of passionate, dedicated networked resources we'd be happy to share with you, and we'd be honored to help you and your loved ones on your journey.

Holly Medina, Death Doula, Chickadee Collective