Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life

This practical guide to achieving a good death will reduce the fear that often cloaks discussions about death and dying and give us the knowledge and skills to achieve a peaceful and gentle death.

With the multiple options available at the end of life, we can design and direct our end-of-life journey, ensuring it is as fulfilling and meaningful as possible right up to the end and achieving the elusive good death when the time comes. Chapters focus on essential elements of living well and preparing for a good death, including:

- Death cleaning so we don't burden our loved ones with a big mess.
- Talking with loved ones and doctors about our end-of-life wishes and aspirations so they know what matters to us and how we want to be treated.
- Writing a legacy letter (an ethical will) and a memoir to let loved ones know what is deep in our hearts.
- Understanding caregivers, an under-appreciated group of people, usually unpaid women, who number in the millions.

This thoughtful and gentle guide, exploring one of the most difficult human topics, equips us with the information we need to overcome the anxiety and confusion that so often overwhelm end-of-life planning, enabling us to intentionally plan for "a good death" that will provide comfort for all during one's final act.