Knowledge Hub
7 Reasons to NOT make a will during Free Wills Month! (UK)
It’s Free Wills Month during October here in the UK. Which means you can get your will drawn up for free from participating solicitors. Maybe you’re still thinking of putting it off. Here’s some reasons and consequences to NOT making a will during Free Wills Month. Reasons NOT to sort…
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When should you write your last will and testament?
Read what small step you can do today to help you move forward with writing your last will and testament, and why it’s a good idea right now, even if you don’t live in the UK
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Ross Shire Journal – share in £1.5m award
Article in Ross Shire Journal reporting that Before I Go is named one of 10 national “Changemakers” helping people cope with money pressures. Here’s an extract from the original article A social enterprise which encourages people to make plans for the end of their lives while they can has been…
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Advantages of Age – Sep 2021
I was asked to write an article for the site Advantages of Age, about how I came to set up Before I Go Solutions after my first husband died. “Jane Duncan Rogers is the CEO of Before I Go Solutions. Her first husband died when she was 54 which led…
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How to get my family to let me go
When you know you’re dying but your family can’t accept the fact. This article shares 3 tips how to get your family to let you go.
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Diane Wyzga Podcast interview – part 2
This is Part 2 of the podcast interview I did with Diane Wyzga where I spoke about the absolutely vital end-of-life planning work that I and my team are spreading around the world. We were talking about creating Before I Go Solutions as a non-profit when I was asked about…
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Diane Wyzga Podcast interview – part 1
Diane Wyzga of Whidbey Island, Washington and her podcast Stories From Women Who Walk. Listen to me being interviewed about my journey. Transcript: Today my guest is Jane Duncan Rogers, founder and Chief Officer of Before I Go Solutions and Before I Go Academy who’s joining us from North Scotland.…
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What happens to your belongings when you die?
This article is about what happens to your belongings when you die, particularly if you have no children to leave them to and some tips how to decide where your belongings go after you’ve gone.
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The ‘D’ Word – with Pete Hill at UK Health Radio
Talking with Pete Hill of The ‘D’ Word (dementia). It’s so important for those with early signs of dementia and their loved ones to address the other ‘d’ word – death.
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End Of Life – with Erica at 12Radio
Would you want a copy of your loved one’s fingerprint after they have died? Or even before?
What would you want to wear in your coffin? Should black armbands be brought back? Just a few of the fascinating topics we covered in this podcast.
Charity Today – May 2021
I talk to Charity Today about how my End-of-life Planning Cards can help society get more open about grief, death and dying.
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What signs do we get from people who have died?
Staying alert to signs can be a way to find comfort and support as you move forward with your life after a bereavement. Find out how a woodpecker helped Jane!
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Death By Design – in conversation with Kimberley Paul
Learn why end of life planning is so crucial and why people don’t realise this until it’s too late. And how laughter when talking about this subject is so important!
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Who should I appoint as my power of attorney?
If you’re not sure who you should choose for the different types of power of attorney here are some ideas to help you.
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What’s the difference between a will and power of attorney?
Learn the difference between a will and power of attorney, and when each of them takes effect.
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What happens after I die?
What happens after death is one of those perennial questions! Jane shares her thoughts on some of the different aspects you might want to consider.
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What does a white feather mean?
Discover how the lightness of a feather (or three) helped Jane move through the gravity of grief.
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What is a shroud?
“Would you rather your body was wrapped in a shroud, or placed in a coffin?” This was a question I asked folk in my Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/endoflifeconversations It turned out that it was more or less equally divided, but that many didn’t know hardly anything about a shroud. So…
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How do I start on sorting out my stuff?
Sorting out your stuff can sometimes feel so overwhelming that it’s really hard to get going. Here are my top 3 tips to help you make a start.
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Is there life after loss?
When you’re bereaved, it’s easy to think there will never be any quality of life after loss. It’s such a hard time, but this story gives hope, inspiration and a sense of possibility, especially for those in the older stage of life.
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What’s the difference between end of life plan facilitators and end of life doulas?
End of life as a phrase has become much more common in the last few years, initially attached to the word ‘doulas’, and now there are end of life plan facilitators, or consultants, and even coaches. So what’s the actual difference? An end of life doula is someone who…
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What will happen to your kids?
What will happen to your kids? Getting your head around what will happen to your kids if you should die unexpectedly is a biggie.
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Interview with Silver Tent TV
In this intimate interview Siobhan A Riordan of Silver Tent TV talks with Jane Duncan Rogers about the lessons she learnt accompanying her husband to end of life.
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How do I organise my old photos?
How do I organise my old photos is something many have asked me about. It’s a great question, and very relevant for many of us of a certain age! And indeed if you are asking this question you are likely to have boxes/albums/files full of black and white photos, many…
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How do I create a legacy book?
There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots; the other, wings. Here’s how you can leave tangible memories for your children and grandchildren.
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In conversation with Dr Kathryn Mannix
Watch or read a conversation about what dying is really like, and how best to plan for a good death, with Jane and Dr Kathryn Mannix, palliative care doctor and author of ‘With the End in Mind’
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Ariane Burgess MSP & Jane Duncan Rogers: Chats About Life
Jane joins Ariane Burgess to discuss how planning for death can be included in living a more sustainable life.
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Will Coronavirus Change Our Conversations About Death?
A useful conversation set up by Compassion in Dying (UK), with several presenters, including a breast surgeon (who also has breast cancer); an intensive care anaesthetist; and a palliative care doctor.
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Do we really need to be frightened by death to fully appreciate life?
We’ve become so far removed from death that when the effect of the pandemic began to hit hard, we were stunned and shocked. How dare this happen, to us, who are so used to being in charge of life?
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How to plan for the end of life – Dying Matters Week UK
During Dying Matters week, I was delighted to be asked to post about just how you really DO plan – here are some pointers to get you going on your plan for the end of life. Even more essential now in these days of the pandemic.
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Coping with the personal impact of multiple deaths and losses: for care home workers
Jane talks about cumulative grief – and how to cope with the losses which are happening in care homes, and all over the world as a result of COVID-19.
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In conversation with Su Winsbury
Jane doesn’t very often talk about ‘all things spiritual’ but they are a solid foundation to all the very practical work that she is better known for.
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Heroic Journeys: from crisis to transformation – with Michael Banks
Dying to Talk – why the coronavirus is a great opportunity for a neglected conversation. Jane joins this podcast to offer practical advice.
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Funerals and body disposal in the time of coronavirus
In my book, Before I Go: The Essential Guide to Creating A Good End of Life Plan, I introduced the idea of the separation of the disposal of the body from the ritual involved in what has traditionally been called a funeral, and which is what we are familiar with.…
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Coronavirus: stay home or go to hospital?
If I have coronavirus, is it better to stay at home or go to hospital? Dr Kathryn Mannix answers the question. #havetheconversation
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Coronavirus and being out of control – but here’s what you CAN control
Suddenly the possibility of death from COVID-19 has come closer much more swiftly than we might have anticipated. However, although we may not have any control over when, where or how the coronavirus will be in our area, we DO have control over how we meet it. We CAN manage…
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Coronavirus, life, death and fear: 3 pointers when feeling out of control
3 ways to calm fear thoughts when worries about coronavirus threaten to take over
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Moray Business Women’s Showcase Event
A 5 minute slot at local Moray Business Women’s Showcase evening, 10th March 2020 – not a lot of time!
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Is funeral insurance really worth it?
Marisa, a client, contacted me with an urgent tone in her voice. “Should I get funeral insurance? I really want to sort my funeral out, but this is a big stumbling block for me. I just can’t decide, and it’s keeping me awake at night.” Aged 68, Marisa was aware…
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3 Tips on How to Talk to Children About Dying and Death
Many people have misgivings when it comes to talking with children about death. Find out what to do about it if it’s something you worry about.
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The most unusual Valentine’s Day present ever!
Everyone has an opinion about Valentine’s Day, but most of us love a gift, no matter what. Find out about a special offer on a gift that will really surprise your loved ones – as well as make their life easier!
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Decluttering
Inspired by the BIG Method, Michael Williams (a BIG Solutions end-of-life planning facilitator) decided to tackle the problem of de-cluttering a lifetime of posessions head-on.
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The Independent – January 2020
My story is included in the Independent’s round-up of readers’ stories of love, adventure, hellos and goodbyes: the years that changed their decade in the 2010s.
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She Magazine – Winter 2019
As we enter a new decade I share my tips for making it meaningful, and planning well for the future, in this online magazine for women.
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Time to get rid of euphemisms about death – or not?
Recently, an article was published in the Guardian on this subject. But is it really time to get rid of euphemisms about death? Could it be that if we do this, we are throwing the baby out with the bathwater? I was intrigued about this idea, and so asked people…
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The Elephant in the Room
Right now, there is probably an elephant in your room, lurking. It’ll be either deeply hidden behind the furniture, or able to be seen but stuck in the corner of the room, or in some cases, it might be right in the middle of the room, and people pass…
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Marrying Yourself After Becoming a Widow: A Beautiful Ritual to Help You Recover
Being left behind takes quite a bit of getting used to, there is no doubt about it. But we can’t bury ourselves in our grief for the rest of our lives. We need to find a way to recover and move on. Some of us choose to remarry, and so did I, although this is a different kind of marriage.
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3 Tips for Making End-Of-Life Talk Easier
How do we bring death out of the closet and into our lives, without the terror? We need to start talking about it again. Here are some pointers to starting a conversation in a world that is afraid of the one thing that statistics say will happen to 100% of us.
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4 tips to dealing with the effects of missing someone you love
Missing your Mum or your Dad after they have died is as natural as anything, especially if they have played a large part in your life, such as if you had been caring for them. The grief comes with a big slam, catches you sideways, and tosses and turns you…
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How Do I Keep Funeral Costs Down?
How do I keep funeral costs down? The perennial question for many. Here’s a familiar story: “I don’t want to pay that amount of money for something I don’t want!” I screamed these words to the funeral director who sat opposite me on the sofa two days after my husband…
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