For 36 years, Eric Rooney, the founder of Regeneration Earth, has dedicated his work to nature-based regeneration, human care, and death care. His background as a farmer, gardener, storyteller, visionary, death doula, and speaker informs a holistic approach to supporting individuals and communities through all stages of life. Eric’s work integrates land stewardship, gardening, and end-of-life care as interconnected practices of healing and regeneration. He is currently leading the development of an elder-centered, regenerative residential community integrating farm-based living in the eastern United States.
There are five legal body disposition options What will you choose?
A “green” option for burial, known as natural organic reduction (NOR) is the practice of breaking down human remains into fertile soil or a fertilizer that can be used to nourish plants. This is done by creating an environment in which decomposing organisms, like bacteria and fungi, can thrive.
Another eco-friendly burial option is water cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis. It uses a bathtub of warm water with alkaline compounds to do what would occur naturally when a body is placed in the earth. It has been legal in Colorado since 2011.
End-of-Life Care or “hospice” focuses on the care, comfort, and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is approaching the end of life. At some point, it may not be possible to cure a serious illness, or a patient may choose not to undergo certain treatments.
This end-of-life option allows an eligible terminally-ill individual with a prognosis of six months or less to live to request and self-administer medical aid-in-dying medication in order to voluntarily end his or her life with the authorization of a physician to prescribe medical aid-in-dying medication to the individual under certain conditions.
An end of life plan allows you to officially document your wishes for the final days. This includes important decisions such as the medical care you’d like to receive, the funeral and burial arrangements you’d prefer, and what you want to happen to your assets. We must know all of our legal options first.
Here’s a list to get you started, then head to our page for more resources.
Diane Hullet runs the Best Life Best Death Podcast, is an end of life Doula, and offers courses and individual coaching all around the subject of death and dying.
Compassion & Choices is an organization that improves care, expands options and empowers everyone to chart their end-of-life journey. They work to improve care through systemic and policy change and aim to defend and protect the full range of patient-directed, end-of-life healthcare.
Speaking on a variety of death topics- from end-of-life, to green burial options, to grief-Eric Rooney moves his audience from fear to peace and heartbreak to hope with story-telling, honesty, education, and loving care. A powerful way to work with Eric as your Guide are the private death dinners.
