Secret #13 Death and Dying
Generally speaking, the Western society does not talk much about death and dying.
It is mostly considered taboo yet all who have experienced the death of a loved one will tell you that it is very important to discuss end of life wishes. It is often captured under the term “Advance Care Planning”.
What is Advance Care Planning?
Advance care planning involves thinking about, discussing with your family and close friends, and possibly documenting what types of health care you may or may not wish to receive – if you become seriously ill and/or unable to speak for yourself.
While it is top of mind once illness or accident strikes, this is actually something everyone needs to think about so that it is in place when the unforeseen happens.
Tools that are used in advance care planning can include:
Advance Care Plan
Advance Care Directive
Living Will
Medical Power of Attorney
Enduring Power of Attorney
Enduring Power of Guardianship
Will or testament
You may need legal assistance to put together some of these documents.
Each state has its own set of rules and tolls for making this all happen.
https://end-of-life.qut.edu.au/advance-directives/state-and-territory-laws
Funerals
I understand this can also be a little morbid for some however forewarned is forearmed. While you won’t be here to organize it you can prepare it all so your family doesn’t have too.
If you haven’t arranged a funeral before, it can be a daunting task trying to understand the various funeral cost components and your options.
Most people don’t understand that there are a couple of different ways you can get buried in Australia if not choosing cremation.
The first is a traditional burial through a funeral parlor and the second is a Green or Natural burial.
What is a Green Funeral?
A green funeral (also known as a “green burial” or “natural burial”) is a funeral that seeks to make as little impact upon the environment as possible. Green funerals are different from traditional burials in that they have some or all of the following elements:
- Burying the body at a green burial site
- Burying the body in an environmentally conscious green coffin, casket or shroud
- Burying the body without a grave liner or burial vault
- Dressing the body in biodegradable clothing
- Preparing the body without, chemical preservatives and disinfectants
- Having no headstone or a green headstone
- Engaging the services of a specialist green funeral director
https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/green-funerals-australia/
The list provided is designed to help you understand funeral costs and how much you can expect to pay. It covers:
Funeral Cost Categories
Itemised Breakdown of Funeral Costs
Funeral Costs by State
For more specific information on funeral costs in each state, see our specific city guides:
Funeral Director Costs, Sydney
http://bit.ly/2GEDmuH
Funeral Director Costs, Melbourne
http://bit.ly/2En83m2
Funeral Director Costs, Brisbane
http://bit.ly/2T8QU7z
Funeral Director Costs, Adelaide
http://bit.ly/2GDRy7t
Funeral Director Costs, Perth
Transparency for consumers is always a good thing. Time is not on your side when a death occurs so this website is a great first port of call to quickly assess the funeral services near you. Thanks for creating such a service. Knowledge is power!”
https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/
Secret #14 How I Dealt with Cancer
