Helpful Resources
How do I have the conversation about preparing for my own end of life with my family and loved ones?
If you have made up your mind that now is the time to get papers in order, organize your documents, and be ready in case the inevitable happens. I say, “CONGRATULATIONS!”, this is one the kindest things you can do for yourself and your family. One of the biggest challenges and potential barriers to getting this done is bringing it up with you family and loved one who may potentially be resistant to the idea. There is an organization called Conversation Project which offers a beautiful way to do this. They have a kit called conversation starter kit which gives you a step by step process for you and your loved one to begin having that conversation. And, it’s free!
Please know, just because you are thinking of completely these documents does not mean that you will bring death to you! Just like thinking about sex does not get you pregnant. Inquiring and completing forms for peace of mind around end of life does not bring about death, it actually helps you live a more full life!
Who will speak for you?
Pediatric Starter Kit--Having The Conversation With Your Seriously Ill Child
5 Wishes: Another excellent organization that offers information for stating what you want at end of life.
Kitchen Table Conversations
A guide to having THAT conversation with your family. This organization provides a plethora of user friendly links from getting your Advanced Care Directive prepared to what to say and more importantly, NOT SAY, when someone is grieving. Check them out. kitchentableconversations.org
Legacy Questions
24 questions you should ask your parents while you still can.
As an End of Life Doula, one of the things I do with the terminally ill and their loved ones is create a legacy project. It’s a beautiful way for the person to share their history, their success stories and create beautiful memories together. Click on the Huffington Post link and you will find questions to help you create your own legacy project.
How to plan a candle lit vigil
Hospice
Dynamic Hospice Care Located in Sherman Oaks, CA servicing the valley, westside, Pasadena and Burbank
Agape Hospice and Palliative Care Located in South Bay are of Los Angeles CA. Serving Los Angeles, Anaheim and Orange County.
Amare Vista Hospice Located in the South Bay and Greater Los Angeles area.
In-Home Care
Pacific Crest Homecare Solutions. This facility also includes medication management for those who may need extra support in complying with their medications. Serving Los Angeles and Orange County, CA
Care Giving For You This is a family run organization that provides incredible in-home care support for seniors in the Los Angeles are in CA.
Dynamic Home Health Care and Care Giving Services Located in Sherman Oaks, CA servicing the valley, westside, Pasadena and Burbank
Senior Living Facilities
CarePatrol North OC and East LA County CA CarePatrol educates seniors and their families about various senior living and care options including average cost of care and ways to pay for care. CarePatrol helps seniors find safe independent living, assisted living, memory care, board and care and in-home care options, all at NO COST to them.
Green Burials
What exactly is a green burial?
The Green Burial Council’s steps for minimizing negative environmental effects include forgoing embalming, skipping concrete vaults, rethinking burial containers and maintaining and protecting natural habitat. Choices can be made at each step of the death care process to limit waste, reduce the carbon footprint and even nourish the local ecosystem.
Embalming, vaults and coffins can be expensive, with the national median cost of a funeral reaching upward of $8,500, according to the N.F.D.A. Replacing them with other options or scrapping them altogether can save money as well as the environment, since you’re not spending on extraneous items or putting them into the ground.
Miscellaneous Services
MUSIC FOR MEMORIAL SERVICES AND MORE
Kipp Kahlia is a singer and a guitarist, who arranges and performs soulful renditions of music for memorial services and other kinds of ceremonies. She also writes and composes original songs in English and Spanish (for those interested in having her create a “legacy song”). Lastly, she plays beautiful instrumental guitar pieces from the European classical music tradition. Music makes almost everything better!
(562)-380-1374
TECH HELP FOR OLDER ADULTS
Nancy Spear patiently teaches her older adult clients how to use their tech devices: iPhones, iPads, PCs, and Macs. Now working remotely, her clients have not only mastered emailing and online shopping, but they’ve also learned how to get on Zoom calls and order groceries and meals from their computers.
The Precis— Obituary & Eulogy Writing Service
Why do our Obits & Eulogies stand Head & Shoulders above others?
Crafting an obituary or eulogy is an art. Our tributes, written by a professional journalist, capture the essence of individuals, their joys, sorrows, triumphs and milestones. That amusing trait, annoying habit, witty turn-of-phrase help bring the loved one alive on the page. Or in a eulogy.
A Souls Remembered
Check out another beautiful way to memorialize your loved ones
Create a visual life story of your loved one that you can take with you anywhere you go, wherever you go. Unlike a shoebox full of pictures or a DVD, a Visual Life Story is designed to be shared at any time because it is a web-based story. Because our stories are virtual, they do not require any special equipment and will work on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Share your story with minimal effort. A Souls Remembered Visual Life Story is a therapeutic way of dealing with the loss of a loved one and a great way of keeping your memories alive.
You can also create an obituary that is stylish and safe. Share your obituary with minimal effort. A Souls Remembered obituary is a cost-effective way to share funeral arrangements and death notices via your social media network and email without letting scammers and criminals get your information from a local newspaper. You can add a link/button that will take them to our website. Click here for information A Souls Remembered
SOME OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS ON DEATH AND DYING
Dying to be Me--My Journey From Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing by Anita Moorjani
Tear Soup--A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen
The Beauty of What Remains--How Our Greatest Fear Becomes Our Greatest Gift by Steve Leder The End of Life Book Club (A son's journey through his mom's terminal illness, influenced by their exchange of books) by Will Schwalbe
CHILDRENS BOOKS ON DEATH
Cry. Heart. But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved
Dropping Ashes on the Buddha by Seung Sahn Soen-sa
Tear Soup--A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen
The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (ages 4-8 years)
The Invisible String Workbook--Creative Activities to Comfort, Calm and Connect by Patrice Karst
I want to send out a special and sincere thank you to my friend and colleague, Lynne-Anne McGrail who does the enormously brave and valuable work of being an end-of-life doula. I called her as my dear neighbor was coming to the end of his life after a long illness and she provided so much love and support to me, which I could then turn to give to his family. If anyone is going through something like this, or know someone who is, don’t hesitate to ask for help from Lynne-Anne, she is a gifted counselor.
Lisa W.