As people age and start to think about their futures, they are confronted with the challenges of a living a long life and dying well. At the same time, many have to deal with diseases, financial worries, and health care issues for themselves and their parents. These developments are made all the more difficult if they are not comfortable talking about them.
The creative people at Action Mill have created a card game that is focused on dying, death, and the host of ethical questions and issues surrounding these major human transitions.
In an interview, Nick Jahlen, a partner in the firm, was asked "How can you convince people this is a worthwhile (and not depressing ) use of their time?" His response: "The funny thing people are used to playing games about the economy (Monopoly), murder (Clue), war (Risk) and all sorts of other topics that don't sound fun. That's what makes a game a game. It is much more than you read in the instructions."
Their creative team talked with experts in palliative care and hospice nurses to come up with the questions used in the deck of cards. Here are a few of our favorites:
- What is the last meal you want to eat and who would you like to join you?
- At what time and place have you been most comfortable in your own skin?
- If you could pick anyone to sing at your memorial service, who would it be, and what would they sing?
- If only one story is told at your memorial service, who should tell it?
This is a must-have spirituality resource for chaplains, elders' ministers, and healthcare professionals. We also recommend it for families as a way of talking about important matters and bonding as a unit.
