I met up with my younger sister, Susan Morris, this weekend. Susan is a senior Macmillan nurse and a health professional working with people with life limiting conditions. She is a pioneer of the natural death movement
www.naturaldeath.org.uk.
Most of us are familiar with the natural birth movement which promotes choice and control for women in terms of pain relief, birth plans and intervention. The natural death movement is similar in that it encourages involvement of the patient in terms of their treatment and promotes choices in terms of location etc.
Most importantly, it answers those questions that people are so often afraid to ask as they face the death of a loved one. Susan is a major contributor to the Natural Death Handbook; an incredibly informative read for anyone caring for someone with a life limiting condition or someone who wants to know more about their own destiny. It is a unique book in that it covers the practical issues e.g. what help is available within and outside the
NHS, and the psychological issues in terms of dealing with death which is an inevitable part of all of our lives.
I contributed to the book as an Aromatherapy expert. I detail how Aromatherapy can ease side effects of palliative care treatments on a spiritual as well as practical level. Susan is on the
organising committee of an exhibition to promote green funerals, which is being held on 28 April 2007 -
www.naturaldeath.org.uk for full details.
The Natural Death Centre is an educational charity. It publishes the Natural Death Handbook and provides the only impartial funeral advice service in the UK. More information can be found via the following:
Helpline: 0871 288 2098
Email:
mike@alberyfoundation.orgWeb:
www.naturaldeath.org.uk
