Dying Awareness
Question: How much is comprehended by the patient as they approach end of life? Do they know who is present, if someone is absent? How does the patient feel knowing...
Something to Think About: a blog on end of life
Fear
A Moment of Death Guide
I wrote this post as a follow up to last week's post, The Final Hours Before Death. To: End of life doulas, in-home caregivers, hospice nurses, social workers and chaplains,...
The Final Hours Before Death
When someone is dying a gradual death from disease and is hours tominutes from death they don't need a doctor, nurse, social worker, or evena chaplain. They need someone who...
Don't Go Where You're Not Invited
Over the years people have told me stories of a friend or neighbor who was dealing with end of life issues. They then have asked that I call that person...
When Doctors Can't Fix My Ailing Body, I Want to Close My Eyes And...
We have all sorts of fears around dying and death so we keep thoughts of end of life at bay. We are like ostriches who bury their heads in the...
Infant Loss
October 15 was National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I’ve been asked to write about the grief experienced with the loss of a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. I...
Dying Soon After A Spouse
I know “dying of a broken heart” is used frequently when death comes as a result of a tragic life event. I’m not sure that is actually why the person...
When You're The Only Survivor
Having friends, interacting with others, is an important part of that living. Even introverts need one or two people with whom to relate. I don’t know how old you are,...
Miracles
QUESTION: Can you write about "miracles" and how the hope/prayer for a miracle can make people miss what is in front of them? The dictionary defines miracle as: “an event...
Is a Peaceful Unmedicated Death Possible?
QUESTION: I am a 30 year old woman working as a psychology intern at a local hospital. My engagement in the hospice program has me thinking a lot about my...
Oxygen, Morphine and Air Hunger
QUESTION: What do you think of use of oxygen at the end of life? – Does it hasten or prolong death? I consider use of oxygen at end of life...
Dementia Doesn't Play By The Rules
QUESTION: My question is about when someone with advanced dementia is in that sort of vague pre-active dying period, say those months in and out of the hospital, the time...