Birgitte Due Jensen Koch, Danish Institute for Existence
It’s a changing world out there. Resources for end of life planning are expanding every week. Here at Final Fling, we keep track of interesting developments across the globe and this week we’ve been in touch with, Birgitte Koch, Founder of The Existence Institute in Denmark to find out what they’re up to.
The Institut for Eksistens is interested in making the journey towards end of life as good as it can be for individuals, their families and the health care workers supporting them:
“Our mission is to eliminate taboos about death in Denmark through training, lectures and research,” said Birgitte. “The Institute focuses on each individual’s relationship with death – including physical, mental and metaphysical aspects – but also on living life to the fullest until death occurs. We are particularly interested in life just before death.
Birgitte reports that 2014 got off to a good start in Denmark: “Over 300 Danish children die of incurable illness each year so we’re delighted to see government has approved the setting up of Denmark’s first ever hospice for children.
“With political approval in place and financial discussions underway, it does seem likely that Denmark will have its first children’s hospice before too long.
“The new hospice will be built as an extension of the oldest hospice in Denmark, Skt. Lukas Hospice, located slightly north of Copenhagen. Once finished, the new hospice will have space available for five children and their families.”
No doubt our new friends in Denmark will watch and learn from the experience of other nations and CHAS – Scotland’s model children’s hospice – is certainly a good starting point.
The Institut for Eksistens is the latest addition to the Final Fling community. If you want to join the movement, contact us.
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