Silver City -- "All About Death Doulas" is the topic of the April 28 meeting of the "Death Cafe," a free, monthly meeting designed to spark dialogue and conversation about all things death-related, while also offering resources and assistance to help people prepare for their ultimate demise. This presentation is similar to a recent workshop presented by Lisa Jimenez for WILL, the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning.

Jimenez, a certified death doula and owner of A Good Death, LLC, a local business dedicated to helping people prepare for their own good death, will discuss the role of death doulas at the end of life, how doulas help people plan and prepare for death to ensure a calm and peaceful passage, and how the death doula movement is bringing death back into the home and community.

"Most people say they prefer to die at home, surrounded by family and friends, but unfortunately very few people actually die this way, because they simply aren't well-prepared," said Jimenez. "A death doula helps fill in the many gaps in our nation's disease management system, a system that is entirely ill-equipped to meet the demands of the nearly 80 million Americans who are over the age of 65. It's essential that people take the necessary steps to ensure that their end-of-life wishes are honored, and their loved ones can witness their transition with peace and calm, unburdened by unnecessary stress, guilt or regret."

Topics to be discussed include advance planning documents, such as power of attorney for health care, DNRs, or Do Not Resuscitate Orders, Life Celebrations and Memorials, the end-of-life vigil, funerals and disposition of human remains, medical advocacy, and other areas of service that the death doula provides.

The 90-minute Death Cafe meets at 4:00 pm at the Silver City Public Library. For more information, please contact Lisa Jimenez at (575) 574-5473.