Compassionate Conversations
Join our Compassionate Community Conversations
End of life is a shared social experience
Over the next twenty years, more of us will be living longer. As we live longer, more us will also be navigating the later stages of life. To support all of us living well at the end, we need to look further than having our superannuation last and having a health system that can support us. For generations and for thousands of years the final stages of life has been something we’ve shared within families and neighbourhoods. Only in the last half a century or so, have we started relying on hospitals as we approach life’s end.
Meeting once a month to have conversations about a compassionate community approach to well-being as we age
These conversations are part of a 3 year program jointly funded by the Sydney North Health Network and The Wicking Trust.
Well-being as we age
“Alone we can do little. Together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
When we share our stories, we feel more connected and less alone. Creating compassionate community conversations is one way we hope to help us better care for one another. These are monthly meetups to share stories, perhaps practice to express some of the things we struggle with and become more comfortable to say yes to help. It is a place to normalise and openly talk about anything related to end of life – and living well in the end.
Through small simple steps, we can all be part of this change. By checking in with our neighbours, getting comfortable with running errands for one another and knowing to attentively listen to one another, we help compassion and care around us grow.
Join these conversations – where we will work out how we do this together.
What will we talk about?
Each time we meet, we have some suggested conversation starters. To make these conversations as meaningful as possible, topics will be adjusted to the wishes of those that attend. When you register, please share if there is anything in particular that you are curious to talk about.
Some of the questions we are looking forward to explore with you are:
- how can we be more available to support one another?
- what do we need as we care for our loved ones?
- what can we learn from people of different generations and cultures?
- why is it hard to talk about death and dying – how can we encourage these conversations?
- how can we strengthen intergenerational relationships in our community?
Growing compassion in our community
“No man is an island, entire of itself” – John Donne
Compassion is crucial to health. What if we can create a community where when we are faced with a terminal diagnosis or our health naturally declines in the end, we all have networks of support available to continue to live socially connected and well at home? Where we have a community that knows how to care for one another at home and we don’t have to solely rely on hospitalisations and emergency admissions. What if we had a community that was able to support and empower elderly living at home, even if they have no family near?
We are curious about better caring for each other in community. Compassion, empathy and social relationships matter so much in the end. We have the knowledge to care together, and we all have important roles to play.
Want to be more involved in growing our compassionate community?
Join the Compassionate Connector Volunteering Program
Many elders in Sydney’s north live with chronic illnesses, and don’t get the number of visits they would like in their homes. The people they do have in their lives can be overwhelmed with the tasks of caring.
The Compassionate Connector Program is designed to connect volunteers with people in the community who are 65 and over living with a life changing diagnosis. By helping build social networks, connector volunteers support participants in the program to remain at home in the community for as long as they would like.
As a Connector you will be part and help build and expand supportive networks for families in need. Full training is provided.
