TALKING about death can lead to a more fulfilling existence, end-of-life carers say, and a series of small gatherings starting at Sandgate Cemetery aims to help people start the conversation.
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"Statistics say 70 per cent of people would like to die at home, but only about 14 per cent in Australia actually do," Ruth Boydell said. "We plan all our special life events, our births, birthdays, anniversaries and weddings - why not plan our end of life to have the experience we would hope for? Planning gives us the opportunity to prepare ourselves, and our families, for the changes, and talking about death makes us focus on what is really important to us... and can help us complete our life in a way that's meaningful."
The joint initiative between Sandgate Cemetery and Newcastle Compassionate Community will cover grief and loss, advance care planning, palliative care, organising a funeral, memoir writing, and doula work and services.
Newcastle Compassionate Community advocate Jeanette Lacey will co-present the first discussion on Wednesday with Ms Boydell.
Ms Lacey said it was an issue too important to ignore.
"People can really struggle socially, culturally and personally, with the concept of even starting healthy dialogue around the many sensitive and often complex issues associated with dying and death," she said. "Some are at a loss about how to even approach the subject with family and friends, let alone find the right words to have an in-depth conversation about it."
The first presentation is on March 20 from 5pm. Registrations are limited, and essential, on 4968 3602.
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