OA6 Talking about death won't kill you; introducing die-alogues

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Engagement
• End-of-Life Care

Background:

• Societal distancing from death due to medicalization and fewer home deaths.
• Understanding of dying and death is shaped by community influences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To support meaningful conversations about dying, death, life, and living through the Die-alogues initiative.
• To enhance community preparedness for end-of-life care through open dialogue.

Main Methods:

• Partnership with diverse community organizations (music, dance, leadership, research).
• Innovative engagement strategies including flash mobs and Jeopardy games.
• Facilitating community discussions on living until death.

Main Results:

• Positive evaluations indicate community interest and demand for continuation.
• Community members expressed a desire for more Die-alogues opportunities.
• Plans for regional expansion, including First Nations communities.

Conclusions:

• High attendance at events signifies community desire to actively learn about and support end-of-life discussions.
• Lessons learned from the Die-alogues community engagement process will be shared.
• The initiative highlights the importance of community-centered approaches to end-of-life care education.