RESOURCES

‘Too frequently, we leave it too late to start to think — but a crisis is never the best time for careful thought.’

As Australia's population ages, many individuals are faced with making complex medical decisions, for themselves and for others, in times of great stress. How far should doctors go when trying to prolong life? How can we decide what is ‘too far’ and ‘not far enough’ for our loved ones unless we know what their wishes are?

Letting Go is an important and timely introduction to, and discussion of, the kinds of decisions that individuals, families, and medical personnel face in a medical crisis. It shows us how to start thinking about our end-of-life stage before we get there; how to make an advance care plan that will help people make decisions on our behalf; and how we can maintain our dignity and autonomy for as long as possible.

Drawing on many years of experience as an intensive-care specialist, and writing with great insight and compassion, Dr Corke shows us all the ways in which people can make a mess of dying — and, more importantly, in doing so, he teaches us how we can do it better.

A charming approach to putting your life in order so your loved ones won't have to. There's a word for it in Swedish: Döstädning, literally, 'death cleaning'.

Swedish-born Margareta Magnusson is, in her words, 'aged between 80 and 100'. When her husband died, she had to downsize her home. The experience forced her to recognise the power of 'death cleaning' and the concerns that must be addressed in order to do it with thought and care. Done well, the approach not only makes things easier for your loved ones later on; it allows you to revisit the lifetime of memories accumulated with your things.

From clothes and books to stuff you just can't get rid of, stuff that matters only to you, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning offers indispensable advice on questions you will inevitably face when sorting through a lifetime of objects: How do you deal with your secrets? Tackle photographs and letters? Avoid heirs fighting over your belongings after you are gone?

 Bill Bridges’ lifelong work was devoted to a deep understanding of transitions and to helping others through them. However, after the death of his first wife, he found himself in the painful and confusing abyss of being personally in transition. An honest account of his experience, this wise and moving book is a direct result of his time in flux. It is a richly textured, deep map of the personal, professional and emotional transformations that grow out of tragedy and crisis.