Something to Think About

Some illnesses are curable. Some are uncertain. And some can’t be fixed—no matter what we do. Knowing which type you or your loved one is facing can help you choose...

Hospice isn’t about giving up—it’s about support, comfort, and quality of life. Here is the truth behind 4 common hospice myths families often believe.

If I could sit beside you at the bedside, this is what I would place in your hands. Whether you’re a family member, a friend, a caregiver, or an end-of-life...

We began with his favorite dinner-meatloaf and mashed potatoes, salad and, of course, ice cream. As we sat around the dinner table, we began sharing memories, stories, and experiences.

Patients die while having home health services just like people die in hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities. End of life knowledge is beneficial to the patient and family no...

How do you get a terminally-ill patient to accept hospice care?

Someone recently asked me, “What do Hospice volunteers do?” She was interested in becoming one. She was most interested in helping in an area most people are afraid to even...

End of life care is about bonding and developing trust — not just with the patient, but with the family and the caregiver, as well...

How do we interact with someone dying a sudden death? The same way we would react with someone dying a gradual death.

The experience of dying a gradual death is an important, integral part of life. It is an opportunity to write our final chapter, to define the ending of our story...

Just as we have to go through an intensive process to enter this world, so do we go through labor to leave it.

End of life care is different from care for someone who is going to get better. Most people don’t know the difference. If we don’t provide clear information, end of...

This is a guide all would be wise to complete now (and regularly update) before the information is needed. It is a gift to those left behind...

By the time the family has mustered the courage to call, they are usually at their wit's end. They probably have needed services weeks...

Knowledge is important for the person dying because they are processing their life on many levels. It is important for the watchers because it is our final opportunity to connect,...

Today most hospices have some sort of a hospice house arrangement. It may be in a designated portion of a nursing facility or in a free standing building of its...

Working with end of life all these years has shown me how special each day is. It has also shown me the value and the gift of living, doing, and...

That weekend I sat  on my sofa with a yellow legal pad (before computers) and wrote what I wanted families and caregivers to know about the natural dying process. I...

I want to share with you some of the suggestions you have shared with me. Ideas for filling a huge space left empty by the death of someone who made...

Widows and widowers who are living alone, I have a question to ask you. What do you do with your days? 

It is hard for caregivers to know how to care for a person with dementia. The behaviors are so varied that there is no single correct way to handle a...