As a Growing Social Movement and Self-Care Practice, Death Literacy Is Fostering Positive Conversations About the End

As people around the world live longer, there is growing interest in how we care for the aging and dying. This has led to a new movement called death literacy, which helps people better understand and prepare for death. It focuses on four main pillars: knowledge, skills, experience, and community action. Death literacy encourages open conversations and education about end-of-life care, helping reduce fear and denial around death.

The idea began in 2010 in Australia when psychologist Kerrie Noonan and playwright Peta Murray created The GroundSwell Project, which later launched Dying To Know Day (D2KDay)—a national event encouraging people to talk about death. The term “death literacy” became central to their work, and by 2016, it began spreading to North America through the group Bevival. In 2019, researchers created the Death Literacy Index to help measure people’s understanding of end-of-life topics.

As America's population ages, with “Peak 65” happening between 2024 and 2027, millions are turning 65 each year. This shift brings big challenges, like the need for better long-term care, financial planning, and support for caregivers. Many people also support Medical Aid In Dying (MAID), which has been legalized in 10 states and Washington, D.C.

With more groups and individuals getting involved—from nonprofits to doctors and artists—the death literacy movement aims to make dying, death, and grief a more natural part of life. By talking about death early and often, people can prepare better, reduce suffering, and support one another through life’s final stage. As the U.S. faces a “silver tsunami,” death literacy is becoming more important than ever.

Read the full article “As a Growing Social Movement and Self-Care Practice, Death Literacy Is Fostering Positive Conversations About the End” by Caren Martineau

🔭   This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.