Approaching Death With Dignity

This, however, can create a lack of clarity about what makes a “good death,” a concept originating from the hospice movement.

According to Kevin Quiles, MDiv, a licensed professional counselor, former hospice chaplain, and author of the books Spiritual Care to Elderly and Dying Loved Ones and Conversing with Death: To Build a Better Now and Future, cultural pressure is one major influence that shapes the way people think about and talk about death. “Cultural fears push us daily to think about youthful appearance, permanent states of health, and an ideal longevity,” he told Psychiatry Advisor. “This pressure is so dominant that it even shapes caregiving professionals to avoid serious thought on personal end-of-life issues that await everyone.” He also stated that invisible norms prohibit open dialogue regarding death and dying.

Mr Quiles, who trains healthcare professionals to explore the topic of their own death, advises them to begin a regular practice of reflecting on the impermanent nature of life. He believes the best way for clinicians to help patients or clients confront the topic is to first engage in their own existential work to “become aware of their own resistances to death and honestly grapple with this angst.” Learning to accept the reality that we will die and that everything we work to attain and maintain will end is a lifelong practice, he said.

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