Frequently Asked Questions

Dying is hard work. Life does not just end without a fight. It is important to talk about what it means when life is ending and how to cope. Things to consider are:    

• Deteriorating health and how to manage this.
• The role of emotions and how to stay in control even when feelings are out of control.
• Spirituality and the afterlife and why these matter.
• The “to do list” and how to get it all done when you are running out of time.

As part of a research project, we asked people, who had been through a bereavement*, about how they coped. They didn’t.

Because they were mostly uninformed and unequipped for the journey, they made mistakes. This cost them personally and financially, they suffered unnecessary distress, they lost hope, and their cry at the end of the project was for a resource on dying. In their words they wanted a book called  ‘ Dying for dummies” – we have done better and provided “Death, dying and donuts”.  

We cannot allow people to keep on dying badly. The more we talk about dying, the more we can give people hope when it comes to dying.

*these were people who cared for a family member who had died from cancer in the past year or two. They have been on the “end of life”  journey as a husband/wife/parent or carer.

There are hundreds of other palliative care and dying websites that provide good information- but honestly, they make us feel unwell.

If they make you feel unwell, welcome!

We speak about death in your language. Our resources are easy to understand, they are not morbid, and they will change the way you think about death. We will leave you feeling better about being mortal -not worse.  

People facing terminal illness, because there is a lot to know and a lot to do when your health is failing.

Carers and family because it is easy be overwhelmed when you can’t cope.

Health professionals, because sometimes it’s difficult to find the right time to talk about dying.

You- because everyone will benefit from knowing about dying, the sooner the better- it may change the way you view life.

Read “Death Dying and Donuts“ or attend the virtual workshop

If you still have questions after that, please get in touch at admin@dyingtounderstand.com.au.

If our resources helped you, please tell as many people as possible.

If you read the book and you think our resources were a waste of time, we will give you your money back* – conditions apply. 

If you can help us, please consider supporting us financially – All donations in Australia are tax deductible and a donation will help us reach more people and help them be death literate.  

Today is the best time. Talking about death is safe, it won’t kill you and there is no time like the present.

It is the worst time when you are in the last stages of life because by then you are too sick to care.

Any time in between is ok, as long as you can be sure about tomorrow.

No, paradoxically knowing about death will offer you hope, and decrease your anxiety if you are afraid of dying.

We are not morbid and cannot stand the cliched’ death and dying language and posturing.

Our attitude is to live life to the full even in the face of death. We are not about giving up but about being realistic about how to manage life when it is ending and how to make a lasting difference in life while there is still life.