The saying goes, “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” It’s easy to see how this can apply to our work and relational projects. But what does getting ready and staying ready mean in the context of End-of-Life planning? You might know that it would be responsible to somehow get your affairs in order in case you die, but how do you actually do that?

Stay Ready: An In-Depth End-of-Life Planning Course is here to help. This six weeks virtual workshop brings together the information and observations Neshia has been learning as a death worker since 2012.The goal is to provide an empowering, non-judgmental space for you to learn about your end-of-life rights, intentionally prepare for death and, ultimately, live your fullest life.

Each week's course work features a guiding question, readings, videos and practical steps to get you ready for a thoughtful death. At the end of the course, participants will receive a comprehensive binder of all the course material + electronic copies for easy access for you and every one that will be a part of your death process.

This course is great for: people who have been wanting to do end-of-life planning but have felt intimidated doing it one-on-one; folx who enjoy learning from other people’s questions and experiences; life-long learners and anyone who loves planning!

When: Wednesdays, beginning on August 20th through September 24th @ noon PST, for a lunchtime lesson that doesn’t overly complicate your schedule

Where: Zoom - a link will be sent to you after you register

How much: This course offers sliding scale options. The full cost is $450 ($75 per week). The second tier is $300 ($50 per week; enter the coupon code “PLANNING” at checkout) and the third tier is $150 ($25 per week; enter the coupon code “LEARNING” at checkout).

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Week 1: Honor Your Values

  • Guiding Question: How do my choices reflect my values?

  • What we’re learning about: Advance Directives (health, finance, mental health and dementia) + how they help you clearly state your end-of-life wishes

• Week 2: Honor Your Body

  • Guiding Question: What does respect and compassion for my body look and feel like?

  • What we’re learning about: Palliative care and hospice; comfort measures; Portable Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders + how these care plans can offer dignity throughout a lifetime

• Week 3: Honor Your Choices

  • Guiding Question: What does it look like to honor my choices even if others disagree?

  • What we’re learning about: Medical-Aid-in-Dying (MAID) and Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED) so that you are as informed as possible no matter what your death looks like

• Week 4: Honor Your Rest

  • Guiding Question: What does “rest in peace” mean to me?

  • What we’re learning about: Designated Agent for Disposition; home funerals and final disposition options + how planning and documenting these choices in advance can alleviate stress at end-of-life

• Week 5: Honor Your Legacy

  • Guiding Question: How do I want to be remembered?

  • What we’re learning about: Legacy projects; viewings and ceremonies; funerals, homegoings and other memorial services and obituaries and eulogies + how expressing your preferences for these things before you die can be a gift to those you leave behind

• Week 6: Honor Your Life

  • Guiding Question: What do I need to do now to become the ancestor I want to be?

  • What we’re learning about: Wills and trusts; After-Death Checklist and thoughts and reflections so that you have a clear plan for creating a thoughtful death that is right for you!