JUNE 1 SPEAKERS SERIES
ORDINARY DYING - A FRANK CONVERSATION WITH DR. KATHRYN MANNIX
PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS
We had a fantastic turnout of more than 200 people for the presentation and panel discussion with Dr. Mannix and guests, Dr. Hsien Seow, from The Waiting Room Revolution podcast and Brian Callahan, community hospice advocate. In her presentation, Dr. Mannix introduces us to the way death is treated in our country compared to other countries, such as Ecuador, and how the media and Hollywood have misled people about what ordinary dying is - to the point where we don't know how to talk about it and have become fearful of it. She uses the example of her great-grandmother who had seen ordinary dying in her lifetime because she lived in the early 1900s and life expectancy was not what it is today. As such, the new generations need to reclaim the lost wisdom of ordinary dying. Kathryn recounts the defining moment where she learned how talking about death and the process of what happens to us as we die, can actually give us comfort. She believes having frank conversations about death, and not being afraid to say the words such as 'death' and 'dying' can change misconceptions and misunderstanding. She says "Dying at the end of life is as natural as a sunset at the end of the day". Her final suggestion is that we ask ourselves who knows our end-of-life wishes and to have these conversations with them so that we may be better planned when the end arrives.
PANEL DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS
Bill Harder, PCSBV Dr. Hsien Seow Brian Callaghan
Panel Discussion Key Learnings:
Open and truthful conversations about our illness, what to expect, how we are feeling, wanting more information, managing symptoms, and being honest with planning what we want as an end-of-life experience are key to better understanding and acceptance. We need a village of people we can count on to help us with different stages of our illness. These are your medical team, family, friends, and community. It's not uncommon to want more information and support from more than your medical team. Connecting with other societies can be helpful.
Finally, for the caretakers of loved ones, let your community lift you up and support you during your journey.
If you missed the session, or want to review it again, you can access the video by clicking the link below:
WATCH THE FULL SESSION VIDEO
RESOURCES FROM PRESENTATION Dr. Kathryn Mannix book : With the End in Mind Dr. Hsien Seow: The Waiting Room Revolution Brian Callaghan: Book recommendation: My Father's Wake
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