1. Death & Dying Discussion Questions
Group #
Death & Dying Discussion Questions
Have you ever been to a wake/visitation or funeral? Share your experiences with the group if you feel comfortable.
What factors determine the mood of a funeral? What makes some funerals more difficult or some more easy to cope with?
Do you know if your parents have a will? Do you know if they have a living will?
(It is okay if you don’t know what these are. We will learn about them in this unit.)
Which of the following do you want? Burial, cremation, become an organ donor, donate your body to science or other Why?
_____ years of age is old to me.
Has your family ever had a problem with a person’s death?
(No will, dispute of some sort, paperwork/taxes)
Why is it important to discuss death & dying with your family members? How might it help be helpful if a loved one knows what you would like done when you pass away?
Guess what the leading cause of death is for:
a.) teens? b.) all ages?

2. Death & Dying

3. Death & Dying Objectives
This unit is intended to be informative.
Topics will include:
Leading causes of death (in the US)
Hospice
Will & Living will
Power of Attorney
Obituaries
Stages of Grief
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
Suicide

4. Leading Causes of Death USA 2014 Compiled by: the Centers for Disease Control
Ages 15-24
All Ages
Heart Disease
Cancer
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease
(emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis)
4. Accidents
5. Stroke
Accidents
Suicide
Homicide
Cancer
Heart Disease

5. Last Checked on 9-20-16 Source Link: CDC - Leading Causes of Death

6. Brainstorm Session: Why do we keep death stats
Brainstorm Session: Why do we keep death stats? How can the info be used? Send a representative from your group to put an answer on the board.
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group 8
Group 9
Group 10

7. Cancer Death Rates

8. with the loss and end-of-life.
Hospice
An organization that supplies a caring environment for people with a terminal illness
Physical needs
Medicine & pain control
Medical supplies
Social/Emotional needs
Support for patient & family
Our Mission We enhance life by providing dignified and compassionate care and guidance coping
with the loss and end-of-life.
Hospice is a holistic approach because it addresses emotional, social, spiritual and practical aspects of life, in addition to physical and medical issues. Hospice is available for people with any life-limiting illness or condition. 

9. Living Will
Document that you desire to die a natural death when there is no reasonable hope for recovery (terminal illness, accidents)
Don’t want:
Extraordinary medical treatment
Artificial nutrition/hydration
Gives Dr. permission to withhold/withdraw life support systems under certain conditions

10. Terri Schiavo Case
Basic Info:
She did not have a living will. After she had a collapse, her husband and parents fought over her guardianship for years in the court system. They each felt they had the right to make the decision of whether or not she should die.
                                                                
                                                                
1990 before her collapse
Husband
“Terri wouldn’t have wanted to live on life support.”
Parents
“Terri would have wanted to live.”
Terri with her mother in the hospital.
Timeline:
1990 to years from collapse to death

11. Will (Last Will & Testament )
Legal document in which a person declares to whom his/her possessions are to go after his death
You’re not required to have one
Costs $
Meet with an attorney
Why have one?
May prevent family disputes
Make sure your wishes are carried out
Parts of a Will:
1.)How your final bills will be paid 2.) Cost of settling your estate and estate/inheritance taxes 3.) Who will oversee the settling of your estate (representative/executor) 4.) How, when & who will get the remaining balance of your estate.

12. Health Care Surrogate Act
Power of Attorney
Document that allows you to name someone who would speak and make decisions on your behalf about your health if a situation arose when you could not do this for yourself.
Medical decisions such as surgery,
treatments, medicines…
Financial & legal decisions
Situations: Alzheimer's, old age
Health Care Surrogate Act
Court appointed guardian (most people don’t have this) 2. Your wife or husband 3. Any of your adult children 4. Either one of your parents 5. Any of your adult brothers or sisters 6.

13. Obituaries Public notice of death in a newspaper/online
Brief biography of the deceased
Wake & funeral information

14. Used when you desire NOT to live on machines
Obituaries D. Last will & testament
Power of Attorney E. Hospice
C. Living Will
Found in a newspaper
Used when you desire NOT to live on machines
Assigning possessions to be distributed after death
Holistic organization to help the terminally ill
Document stating that you do not want to delay a natural death
Giving medical decisions over to someone else
Gives wake & funeral arrangement information to the public
Due to a loss of memory and judgment, Alzheimer's patients may sign this document A C D E B

15. Extra Slides

16. Bell Work
Pair Share
1.) Share your answers to the questions you did for homework.
2.) Have you ever been to a wake/visitation or funeral? Share your experiences.
3.) Do you know if your parents have a will/living will?
4.) Has your family ever had a problem with a person’s death? (No will, dispute, paperwork/taxes)

17. Death & Dying Homework – 10 points
Eulogy
Advance directives
Inquest
Coroner
DNR
Bucket List (Not the movie)
Life Insurance
Autopsy
Estate
Trust (Ever heard of a “trust fund baby?”)
Directions: Pick 5 of the following terms and find the definition using internet, dictionary, or by asking an adult (make sure they’re right). Write your answers down on your own paper.