WATERFORD, Vt. (WCAX) – Several groups in the Northeast Kingdom are trying to provide resources to residents surrounding what can often be a difficult topic of discussion — death.
“We wanted to create a space that was welcoming for people to come explore all of those different resources because it can be really difficult,” said Megan Durocher with the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging, which on Friday held its first-ever End-of-Life Resource and Education Fair in Waterford.
“We’re in a state that has one of the highest aging populations, and so these are resources that people need. And because it can be so daunting to have to remember what it is you need to plan for, where to go to, and the fact that we’re all aging. and anybody can access these resources at any time,” Durocher said.
Anne Cowles, a local palliative care nurse, says she enjoyed seeing how many people came to the event. “It’s really, really nice to see all of these different organizations together in the same room for the first time — at least in the Northeast Kingdom — and to see the networking that’s happening between the different agencies has been really wonderful,” she said.
The 30 vendors at the Union Baptist Church provided helpful tips and reassured others they’re not alone.”It’s rural and we have… we’re really spread out. It can feel like we’re alone and death and dying can be a really isolating topic. So, I think it’s important for us to see this space of — we’re not alone and we are, we’re in it together,” Cowles said. “I think having an organization, a space where we all come together to normalize aging, to normalize these hard conversations, to try to reduce the stigma and just bring us all together.”
Organizers say they hope this year’s fair is just the beginning.