Caregiver’s for someone with a terminal health condition or those who have recently experienced a loss and are having difficulty with accepting the changes in their life, are encouraged to attend.
Dr. Althea Taylor Jones, a retired professor from Winston Salem State University, and a nationally known lecturer and member of the NC Association of Death Educators, will deliver the morning address and discuss the attitudes and commonly held beliefs that cause people to fear of death. Cultural factors and family dynamics influence us significantly during times of crisis, sickness and death. Participants will learn how to cultivate positive thoughts and traits in response to the stresses produced by change and loss, and learn how to face and work through these painful times, to ultimately live meaningful lives again.
Participants can choose to attend two of four workshops offered during the day. Rev. Dean Carter from Southeastern Regional Medical Center will present “Living in Mortal Time” a loss simulation exercise of what a patient feels and experiences in the sickness role vs. the dying role. Registered nurse, Ursula Capewell will present “Are Interventions Helpful and When?” to help increase the confidence level for dealing with normal and complicated forms of grief. Dr. Jay Hansford Vest, a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke will present “Life Cycling: Native American Traditions of Death and Dying and will focus on the use of oral tradition as a means of passing on life stories and rituals surrounding Native American death beliefs and practices. Dr. Ottis Murray, a sociology professor from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, will present “After Care: the Importance of Being There” to share strategies to help assist, support and ease heartache when death claims a friend or family member.
Tiffany Christensen, with Project Compassion, concludes the day with her discussion of “Growing Up Dying” and will offer insights into the end of life experience from a child’s prospective, how to have sacred time with the child and strategies for dealing with family guilt and grief.
Conference seating is limited and anyone wishing to attend must pre-register by contacting the Lumber River Council of Governments at (910) 618-5533 to reserve a seat by April 17. The registration fee for professionals is $25 and $15 for family members, students and volunteers.
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