Publications
There are a huge number of books available that can help you deal with death or bereavement, give you more information about where you can get support, or just make you think.
Below is just a sample of books you might be interested in:
Dying to Know, Pilotlight
The one thing we all have in common is that we are all dying. Yet death remains a taboo subject in our society. No one seems to want to talk about it, or knows what to do or say when someone is dying, or dies. Dying to Know is a ground-breaking book which cuts through the taboos and places death firmly in the circle of life. Quirky without being irreverent, accessible without being glib, and challenging without being disturbing, Dying to Know is a collection of conversation starters that lifts the lid on death and helps connect us all a little more. Read it, then rush into the daylight to get on with the more challenging matter of living.
The Sad Book, Michael Rosen
What makes Michael Rosen most sad is thinking about his son, Eddie, who died. He writes about how it affects him and some of the things he does to try and cope with it. Whether or not you have known what it's like to feel really deeply sad, its truth will surely touch you.
How to Have a Good Death, Jane Feinmann, Clive Peterson, D.R. Goldhill, and John Ellershaw
A good death contributes to a good life, so we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to deal with a reality most of us don't want to face. Find out how to deal with death, from understanding the process of dying to communicating with hospital staff and working through the difficult stages of bereavement.
Living with Dying, Grace Shepherd
A profound insight to the greatest test we all face: to be beside someonewe love - a parent, a partner, a child – as they slip away from us. Grace Sheppard draws on the experience of caring for her dying husband, David Sheppard, England cricket captain and later Bishop of Liverpool.
Good Life, Good Death: Tibetan Wisdom on Reincarnation, Rimpoche Nawang Gehlek
Rinpoche Gehlek is one of the last incarnate Lamas alive who was fully educated in Tibet. For the last 20 years he has lived and taught Westerners techniques tested over the course of 2,500 years - techniques which teach us how to take control over our lives and our fears, now and for the future. This is a book which addresses the fundamental questions of life - Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? How do we get there?
The D Word: Talking about Dying, Sue Brayne
"The D-Word" is a practical guide to support relatives, friends and carers who are coping with the distress and anxiety of someone nearing the end of life, or who has suddenly died. Personal stories from people from all walks of life explore the different ways they have come to terms with the dying process or the sudden death of their spouse, partner, parent, friend or child, how they have confronted their fear of talking about it, and ways in which they found support during this very difficult time.
Dying Well: A Guide to Enabling a Good Death, Dorothy Austin, Peter C. Jupp, and Julia Neuberger
This text looks at the various ways in which people of different professions, cultures, religions and philosophical standpoints view death. It covers the hospice movement, euthanasia, living wills and advance directives.
The Natural Death handbook, by Josefine Speyer, The Natural Death Centre, and Stephanie Wienrich
More and more people want to organise at least part of a funeral for themselves, without depending on funeral directors. The Natural Death Handbook shows you how to do everything from ordering a coffin to hiring a horse-drawn hearse to finding a woodland burial ground. It also explains how to arrange a burial on private land and how to set up a woodland burial ground as a business or charity.
Last Orders; The Essential Guide to Your Letter of Wishes, Patricia C Byron
Since the launch of Last Orders in the Spring of 2010, it has become a staple item for those wishing to put their affairs in order. Along with the general public, there are now law firms within the UK Legal 500 using Last Orders for their Will-making clients as well as members of STEP, estate planners and IFAs.
Information for People with Learning Disabilities
Am I going to die? Sheila Hollins and Irene Tuffrey-Wijne.
From the Books Beyond Words series for healthcare professionals, parents and carers who support people with learning disabilities. John has a terminal illness. This book tells his story, dealing with both physical deterioration and the emotional aspects of dying in an honest and moving way. John is shown getting weaker and needing more help. He looks back at his life and makes choices about how to spend his time. The pictures highlight the importance of going on special outings, of remembering good times, and of saying proper goodbyes to family and friends. The final images show John dying at home.
When I die: The Choices that Tony has made for the end of his life
by easyhealth.org.uk
A free, downloadable booklet is an example of what a person-centred approach to the end of life planning should look like.
Aspects of Loss: A Companion for Bereaved Parents and their families, Gill Hartley
In this, her second book since the death of her son Will at aged twenty-two, Gill provides a book to pick up at any time and dip into. Written from the depths of experience, this book will help any journeying through bereavement and faces full-on the predicament of a culture that does not help bring grief into the open. This substantial paperback contains Will's story, prose, and chapters dealing with different Aspects of Loss. The book is interspersed with quotations and poems from both the author's own and other published works.
My True Son: An Anthology of a Journey through Loss, Gill Hartley
The author wrote these poems during a year of searching for answers following the death of her son, aged twenty-two. Foreword by Fiona Castle. Illustrations by Diane Brazier. All profits and Royalties donated to The Compassionate Friends.
Awareness Week Events
There are hundreds of Dying Matters Awareness Week events going on nationwide. View them here, or publicise your own.
