You can choose to do either a face-to-face or an online version of the course. Both cover the same material and have four modules:
Module 1: An introduction to death in Scotland
This first module starts to explore what death looks like in 21st Century Scotland, encourages participants to think about the role of the health and social care system, and makes a start on getting comfortable talking about death, dying and bereavement.
Module 2: Serious illness and frailty
This module looks at some common issues that can arise towards the end of life and some of the emotional issues that can affect someone who is dying, as well as at what people can do to plan ahead to improve their end of life care experience
Module 3: The reality of dying
This week looks further at medicine and treatment; help and support; and emotional and spiritual issues, and participants start to think about active listening.
Module 4: Caring for the Carer
This module explores bereavement and some issues that can affect people who spend a lot of time looking after someone who is unwell or dying, and different ways people can look after themselves and each other.
In the face-to-face version of the course, participants meet for two hours each week for four weeks. There is some optional work that people can do at home during the week, but this is up to individual preference. The course is participative - participants watch short films, take part in group exercises and share thoughts and reflections with others on the group.
In the online version of the course, participants have a week to complete each module, which they do in their own time.
This includes several short films, some quizzes, exercises, short extracts of reading and sharing individual reflections on online discussion forums with other people on the course.
Each week, participants join in a weekly discussion session via Zoom, where they can share their reflections and talk through any issues that have arisen during the week.
