WLRN Extended interview with death doula Susan Srigley, PhD
Nov 4, 2021
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Susan Srigley, a death doula and professor, discusses society's fear of death and the need for death education. She advocates for reclaiming death work as an act of love, challenging patriarchal norms, and promoting inclusivity in end-of-life care. The conversation touches on topics such as death anxiety, burial practices, and the impact of capitalism on the funeral industry.
Palliative care offers supportive treatment for all, while hospice care focuses on end-of-life cases. Death doulas provide comprehensive care and guidance.
Normalizing death by increasing exposure to the dying process can alleviate fears and anxiety, leading to a more peaceful perspective on mortality.
Deep dives
Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care vs. Death Doulas
The podcast delves into the distinctions between palliative care and hospice care, highlighting that palliative care provides supportive treatment regardless of terminal illness status, whereas hospice care is dedicated to end-of-life cases with a prognosis of less than six months. Additionally, the discussion touches on death doulas, emphasizing their role in providing comprehensive end-of-life care, support, and guidance from preparing for death to aftercare.
Normalization of Death
The episode emphasizes the normalization of death by advocating for increased exposure to the dying process to alleviate death anxiety and fears. It stresses the importance of understanding death as a natural part of life, showcasing how witnessing and participating in death-related rituals and care can lead to a more accepting and peaceful perspective on mortality.
Social Justice in End-of-Life Care
The conversation evolves into a discussion on the intersection of death care and social justice issues, underscoring the disparities faced by marginalized populations in receiving quality end-of-life care. It highlights the need for inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches in providing care to diverse groups, reflecting on the societal barriers that hinder access to dignified deaths.
Empowering Communities in Death Care
The podcast highlights the communal aspect of death care and advocates for community involvement in redefining and reclaiming death practices. It emphasizes the collaborative effort needed to dismantle the commercialization of death care, suggesting that collective engagement in end-of-life processes can foster a more caring, just, and compassionate approach to death within societies.
Susan Srigley, Ph.D., is a professor of Religions and Cultures at Nipissing University where she teaches courses on death, dying and spirituality. Susan is a death doula, and has been a palliative care volunteer for the past 20 years. She is an advocate for death education and mentors new palliative care volunteers and offers workshops at her local hospice. In this interview with April Neault, Susan talks about her experiences as an end-of-life companion and about society’s fearsome attitude towards death – a process as natural, though far less celebrated, as birth - among other things.
Enjoy, and thank you as always for staying tuned to feminist community powered radio XX
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