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Welcome to Ars Moriendi
Services
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Our Mission
Mission: We help individuals and families navigate the final path of life’s journey with knowledge, comfort, care, and respite.
Vision: A community where every person has access to resources to navigate the art of dying well.
Our Name: "The Art of Dying"
The Ars Moriendi were two books written in the 1400s that were intended to be guides to experiencing a "good death." The second book included wood cut images to be used in explaining the information to those who were illiterate. With this tool, the Ars Moriendi effectively was a resource available to all people.
Ars Moriendi is Latin for “The Art of Dying.” We intend for the name and history to be our guide as we seek to ensure that all people in our community have access to the resources needed to navigate the art of dying well.
Why Does Our Community Need Ars Moriendi Services?
There is no residential hospice facility in the Fredericksburg area. This means that if a family member is unable to care for a dying person who desires hospice care at home, their only options are private pay assistance (assisted living or in home assistance) or obtaining Medicaid for nursing home placement. No one should be denied hospice because of their social or financial resources. We will change this situation by offering a social model end-of-life home to the community that is open to anyone who is enrolled in hospice and at the end-of-life.
Additionally, we strive to normalize conversations about death and dying through educational workshops, community events, and positive death activities. Support of the terminally ill and their support systems will be given through support groups, end-of-life doulas, and a social model hospice home. A recent study by Old Dominion University found that access to such services significantly improves the quality of life for patients and their families during this difficult journey.
"Ars Moriendi is an outstanding organization that is greatly needed in our community. Our neighborhood, Regency at Chancellorsville (active 55 and over community), invited Rachel Butler and Sara Milliken to do a community presentation on “End of Life Decisions- Myths and Misunderstandings”. They presented to a “packed house” of over 50 neighbors who appreciated every word. Rachel and Sara are extremely knowledgeable, kind, patient and informative. They definitely are the experts in end of life planning and dying a good death. EVERY person in Fredericksburg needs to hear them and support this much needed organization!!!"
-Eileen Dohmann
Death Doula Services
Death is something that everyone experierences but few people are prepared for. With death moving from predominantly being in the home to the hospital in the 1950s, family members are no longer taught how to care for the dying. Death Doulas are growing in popularity as a solution to the unfamiliarity with the death process.
Ars Moriendi Services will increase death preparedness, education and in-person support in the community through Death Doulas. We will provide a training program and provide volunteer doulas to provide care and resources for community members approaching the end-of-life.
