Death wellness
Most likely, you have not seriously contemplated or discussed how you prefer to leave this world. Do you imagine passing away in a medical facility or, like Cersei Lannister, in your own home embraced by a loved one?
If you’ve avoided this macabre topic, you’re not alone: 82% of Americans think it’s important to write down their end-of-life wishes, yet only 23% do so, while nearly 80% say they should talk to their doctor about end-of-life care (only 7% ever do).
So it’s no surprise that although three-quarters of us would prefer to die at home, most end up in a windowless hospital room, attached to tubes and monitors. That’s partially what inspired “death wellness,” which encourages us to not only plan our last days, but talk about the process and support those close to dying.
This “death positive movement” encompasses various initiatives and new roles, such as death doulas who coach those on their deathbed; death cafes which gather the morbidly curious to discuss their fears; and lega…
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