Death Cafe at Home in Park Ridge
A write up of Death Cafe Park Ridge Qld Australia
By Kate Leotta
A small gathering but full of rich discussion that went on for sometime.
After attendees dove into a lucky dip of icebreaker questions in the living, dying, death space, conversation flowed:
Cremation/Body Disposition in Japanese, Philippine and other cultures.
Being laid to rest on country or other ancestral lands.
The pros and cons of VAD, also organ donation.
The issues with prolonging life, medical models, funeral models.
Death is a human event not just a medical and profit driven one.
Talk of living wakes, living to the full after a terminal diagnosis, dying at home, vigils, rituals, home funerals.
Having choice and control for dying and death.
Having those Advanced Care Planning conversations.
Caring for the Dying is as important as caring for those being born and their Mums.
We need to bring community and humanity back into this space.
The outcome was positive, all seemed uplifted at close of the Cafe.
Feedback Forms:
Participants liked the organic atmosphere, hospitality, the introduction, icebreaker questions at the beginning of the Death Cafe and then the flowing intimate conversation, as a small group.
They liked closing of Death Cafe with a quote and feedback forms; also emails giving details of the event, prior to.
Three words used to describe Death Cafe by participants: 'Insightful', 'Connection', 'Learning'.
It was felt the discussion opened eyes in a good way about how much choice we have around our deaths.
Participants also felt no improvement was needed to feel more comfortable at this Death Cafe. (Very soft ambient music played in the background).
Their advice to others thinking of attending a Death Cafe:
"Go for it! You learn so much not only about death, but about life"
Thanks for reading about this Death Cafe.
Best Wishes, Kate.