A Good Death: A compassionate and practical guide to prepare for the end of life

by Margaret Rice

The guide to facilitate much needed conversation and provide resources for grief management and palliative care.When her own mother died, Margaret Rice realised how completely unprepared she and her family had been for the experience of companioning a loved one who is dying. So she decided to go in search of the information she couldn't find when she most needed it and write the book herself - a novice's guide to death.We live in a period of intense death denial. But what if we were to smash that taboo and ask questions we want answered, like how do we know when someone is close to dying, and how do we best care for them? What actually happens to our body when we die? How do we work with medical experts? How do we deal with the non-medical issues that will come up, such as wills, finances and even social media passwords? Is morphine used to nudge death along or is this just a myth? Where do questions about euthanasia fit in with personal, lived experience?Margaret Rice lifts the lid on the taboos that surround death, sharing practical information and compassionate advice from multiple sources to break down boundaries and offer better choices of care to suit individual needs. This is a book to help the dying and their carers feel less isolated, and help us all face death better.

Genres: Nonfiction, Death

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2019

Reviews

[Sarah Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was easy to read and well balanced. I really appreciate that is written by an Australian about our system! And in the last pages I found a story by a colleague from my short stint in a funeral home (Clearly I have an interest in end of life matters). It’s a book I’d like to ask my parents to read, and I anticipate referring back to in the future.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

How refreshing to see an open and honest discussion on death. As a critical care nurse I am unfortunately exposed to death often. The concept of a "good death" and quality palliative and end of life care is something that I believe is cruical. This book is an interesting, practical and informative guide to the dying process. In particular I love how the chapters were set it so it can be used for quick reference. I would encourage everyone to read and have a think about your preparations for the end of life.

[Ree Pettifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard Margaret on ABC radio discussing this book. I sought out the book for confirmation of our families approach to my husband’s passing.

What was incredibly valuable was Part 2. We all have different mindsets and hence filing systems. I remember vividly the hours spent searching for the deeds of our property, my system would be house/property, my husband’s was Lawyer!

Margaret’s suggestions have been used with refinement for my circumstances to put things in order.
A hard task but an essential one to ease the burden for others.

[Roxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone helping a friend or family member through their final journey. It’s full of very helpful information, given in a very respectful way. Not always an easy read, but very helpful indeed.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great guide to elements of companioning death or dying yourself. Left me with lots to think about from the vantage of middle age. Great that it was Australian and was clear about the cloudy difficult conversations.

[Ezra Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

just so lovely