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

Death is inevitable, dying badly is not. A good death is achievable, and this book explains how.

There is an art to dying well that can be taught and learned. While death is inevitable, dying badly is not. This practical guide to achieving a good death will reduce the fear that often cloaks discussions about death and dying and give readers the knowledge and skills to achieve a peaceful and gentle death.

With the multiple options available at the end of life, people can design and direct their end-of-life journey so they have as fulfilling and meaningful life as possible right up to the end and achieve 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.
• The benefits of palliative care, hospice care, and end-of-life doulas and the necessary vigilance to get the most out of these essential services.
• End-of-life options, including medical-aid-in-dying (MAID) and voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED).
• What it's like to die and how to help people as they die.
• Options for disposition of the body of a loved one (or your own body) after death, especially in an economically and ecologically responsible way
• Planning commemorations and celebrations of life.
• The nature of grief, including how to deal with it, and why it is often unbearably painful.

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

Chris Palmer is an author, speaker, wildlife filmmaker, conservationist, professor, and grandfather. He serves on the Board of Montgomery Hospice and Prince George's Hospice and as Vice President of the Board of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maryland & Environs. Chris also serves on the Advisory Council for the Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight, and he founded and runs the aging, dying, and death group in the Bethesda Metro Area Village. He is a trained hospice volunteer and was formerly a Board member of the Green Burial Association of Maryland. He frequently gives presentations and workshops to community groups on aging, death, and dying issues. This is his 10th book. Proceeds from all his books go to fund scholarships for American University students. His website is www.ChrisPalmerOnline.com.