The Death Space

When you're facing a life-ending diagnosis, navigating the field of death care can be daunting. You’re dealing with paperwork, doctors, nurses, sometimes social workers, sometimes hospice, distraught friends and family, plus your own fears and concerns. It can be incredibly stressful and the worries over things undone or left unsaid can become buried under that avalanche.

Someone once told me that death doulas are "in the business of death" and it stayed with me for weeks afterward. I thought and thought about it. And here's the thing: I disagree entirely.

The 24/7 news cycle has been talking about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act non-stop for months. We're all a little stressed. For the purposes of this blog specifically - how does this bill affect elderly citizens, those with disabilities & chronic illness, and low-income individuals (in all categories) at end of life? Let's talk about it.

“Dignity in death” is the rallying call of proponents of medical aid in dying and that phrase points out the difference nicely: the element of choice is what supports dignity, but also choice as an informed and rational component in end-of-life decisions. Without legal, safe, and comprehensive choices...