Death isn’t what it used to be. And that’s a good thing.

The Movements Changing How We Die Information Hub

A quiet revolution is reshaping the end-of-life, and it’s a lot more human. From eco-friendly burials to death cafés where strangers talk mortality over coffee, people are reimagining how we face death and support one another through it. These movements bring choice, dignity, and transparency to one of life’s most universal experiences. Whether you’re planning ahead or just curious, here’s where the future of dying is already unfolding.

Death Movement

Table of Contents

Key Things To Know

End-of-life care is undergoing a quiet cultural shift, and these movements are leading the way. Whether you're new to these ideas or already following the death positive movement, here are a few things worth knowing.

  • Death Positivity Is a Real Movement: Coined by the Order of the Good Death, this term reflects a push to talk openly about death, plan intentionally, and remove stigma from the topic.
  • Green Burials Are Growing: More people are choosing biodegradable shrouds, natural cemeteries, and burials without embalming to reduce environmental impact.
  • Death Doulas Offer Non-Medical Support: These trained guides help individuals and families navigate the emotional and logistical aspects of dying.
  • Home Funerals Are Legal in Most States: You can care for a loved one’s body at home in most places, with or without professional funeral support.
  • Death Cafés Are Global: These informal gatherings happen in cafés, libraries, and even online, giving people a space to talk about death without agenda.
  • Advance Directives Still Confuse People: Many support these tools in theory, but few complete them. Movements are working to change that.
  • Culture Shapes Death Preferences: Movements differ across regions, but all share the goal of making death more personal and transparent.

Movements of Note

After Loss Professionals Movement

  • Description: Unites grief coaches, estate organizers, cleanout crews, celebrants, and other post-death professionals under a shared mission to support the living after a loss. This movement emphasizes compassionate, coordinated care in the weeks and months following a death, filling crucial gaps between the funeral and the future.

  • Organization(s): Professionals of After Loss Services (PALS)

  • Information Hub: After Loss Assistance Information Hub

Death Café Movement

  • Description: Organizes informal gatherings where people meet to discuss death over tea and cake. Aims to increase comfort with mortality and spark meaningful conversation.

  • Organization(s): Death Café

Death Over Dinner Movement

  • Description: Brings people together to talk about death in a casual, meal-based setting, encouraging families and communities to start end-of-life conversations before there’s a crisis.

  • Organization(s): Death Over Dinner

Death Positive Movement

  • Description: Encourages open conversations about death and dying, aiming to reduce stigma and empower individuals to face mortality with awareness and agency.

  • Organization(s): Order of the Good Death

End-of-Life Doula Movement

Green Burial Movement

  • Description: Promotes burial practices that allow the body to decompose naturally, using biodegradable materials and forgoing embalming to reduce environmental impact.

  • Organization(s): Green Burial Council

  • Information Hub: Green Burial Information Hub

Home Funeral Movement

  • Description: Encourages families to care for their deceased loved ones at home, offering a deeply personal, meaningful, and affordable alternative to traditional funerals.

  • Organization(s): Home Funeral Alliance

  • Information Hub: Home Funeral Information Hub

Hospice Movement

Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) Movement

  • Description: Advocates for legal options allowing mentally competent, terminally ill individuals to request and take medication to hasten death on their own terms.

  • Organization(s): Compassion & Choices

Palliative Care Movement

  • Description: Focuses on relieving pain and suffering for people with serious illnesses — not just the dying — and is often integrated with curative treatments.

  • Information Hub: Hospice & Palliative Care Information Hub

Reimagine End of Life Movement

  • Description: Brings together community events, artists, and storytellers to transform how society explores death, grief, and meaning through art, spirituality, and dialogue.

  • Website: Reimagine

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this website and by Buried in Work is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult with a qualified attorney or subject matter expert for advice specific to your situation.