Both Sides, Now focuses on raising public awareness on end-of-life plans.

 

Both Sides, Now has returned this year with an arts-based, community-centric approach that aims to build end-of-life (EOL) friendly communities where individuals and families are supported in making informed decisions about EOL plans.

In a 2014 survey on death attitudes in Singapore commissioned by the Lien Foundation, 71 percent of the respondents saw the need for a national conversation on death and dying. EOL carries significant financial, social and emotional costs, and there is an urgent need to raise public awareness about these issues as well as advance care planning.

Presented by Lien Foundation, Ang Chin Moh Foundation, Drama Box and ArtsWok Collaborative, Both Sides, Now is continuing the work of raising public awareness while adding a deeper dimension of building community capacity by training community advocates and local service organisations, as well as nurturing community alliances so as to ensure the programme’s sustainability and effectiveness. They will be collaborating with community partners such as Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (Wellness Kampung) and Montfort Care (Good Death Programme).

The team of Both Sides, Now has chosen to work with the residents of Chong Pang and Telok Blangah over the next three years, engaging them through specially designed arts-based experiences which will culminate in the co-creation of artworks by a group of artists and community members. This will then be shared with the wider community or public to invite participation.

Both Sides, Now has also launched a puppetry performance of “The Wind Came Home”, a heartwarming story told from the point of view of a stray cat, about an elderly couple struggling to make end-of-life choices. It will be staged in Telok Blangah on November 1 to 5. Also in November, there will be a series of “How do you say it?” talks and workshops in Telok Blangah where participants will learn about EOL issues ranging from medical and legal concerns to emotional and social needs, and pick up skills to talk about them with their loved ones. For time and venue details, refer to:

http://bothsidesnow.sg/whatson-the-wind-came-home.html
http://bothsidesnow.sg/whatson-workshop.html

Members of the public interested in finding out more, and doing Advance Care Planning (ACP) can visit www.livingmatters.sg. Find out more about community- based ACP resources and services at http://bothsidesnow.sg/resources-end-of-life-issues.html.

 

(** PHOTO CREDITS: Both Sides, Now)

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