Our Sounding Board on Death and Dying is over. A tremendous “thank you” to our listeners and to those who called in. Our guests were Kimberley Gooden with Bering Straits Native Corporation, and Deacon Bob Froehle with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Nome.
Our callers included Sue in Nome, who advocated for a doctor-approved “death with dignity” option in Alaska; Layben in Nome who thanked the tremendous number of people across the region who helped with the burial of his father last year; Marjorie in Nome who discussed the loss of traditional ceremonies and the importance of naming ceremonies; Annie in Nome who discussed her how she faced her own mother’s unexpected death; and Bridie in Nome who invited the public to join Kawerak for a celebration of those who have been born, and who have died, across the region during the June 1-5 Kawerak Rural Providers Conference in Nome.
Death is a natural part of life, even if it’s not always easy to talk about. Discussions about what death and our final years can feel impolite, taboo, or just plain scary.
This week on Sounding Board, we’re starting the conversation, and we’d like you to join us as we talk about end of life care, and how we take care of our our loved ones as they pass, and what steps to take next.
Call in and share your experiences about how you care for—or have cared for—your loved ones at the end of their life.
How do you meet their needs, from healthcare to spiritual to personal, in their final days?
Have you had the conversation with your friends and family about your wishes? How did you begin? And if you haven’t been able to begin, why not?
If you’re having trouble talking about death and dying, we’ll share ideas and suggestions for how to start that conversation in your home, and what resources are available to help.
Here are some links that may help you and your family:
