Something to Think About

a blog on end of life

We love sharing helpful info on our blog.

About the BK Team
Planning a Loved One's Celebration of Life

Part of the specialness of doing your own service/celebration of his life is the planning. The gathering of those who loved him gathered together deciding how to celebrate his love and life...

The Challenge of a Loved One Who is Dying

Deciding not to “tell mom she can’t be fixed" takes away that gift. Who are we (yes, even family) to determine what a person needs to or does not need...

"I Wanted Dad To Have a Gentle Death, But..."

...Rapid breathing like your dad was doing is exactly where a small bit of morphine (5 ml is small) helps slow down those 40/50 breaths a minute to a more...

Making Sense of Last Words

What is normal is the person may be talking BUT they won’t be making sense. They may be talking to people you don’t see or hear. Yes, I believe our...

Do Children Die Differently?

There are signs that we look for that indicate a person who has entered the dying process has months, weeks, days, or hours to live BUT not everyone “plays by...

My New Tool  For Working  With Grief

We tend to carry within our memory every death encounter we have ever had.  Yes, even we professionals who work with end of life. BUT it is the personal deathbed memory,...

The "Labor" To Enter This World, And The "Labor" To Leave

End of Life Expert Barbara Karnes, RN explains the similarities in the "labor" to enter this world and the "labor" to leave it. Read on...

 People are never truly prepared for death, especially when their child is dying, but Barbara Karnes, RN gives families and professionals some guidance

We, as a people, are never truly prepared for death but with guidance, honestly, and gentleness we, as caregivers for those people, can ease the fear and uncertainty most bring to the...

For That Person, We Will Grieve article by End of Life Expert, Barbara Karnes, RN

Hospice was perfect for them. Charles had a life threatening illness, had refused further treatment, and they were alone. We were there to give them support and guidance. Charles and...

A Reason To Get Out of Bed article on End Of Life by Hospice Pioneer, Barbara Karnes, RN

When someone has told you you can’t be fixed, that sooner than you expected you will die, your reason for living, your purpose, that which fills your time each day, is...

Mom's Dying Alone And It's Unbearable an article on End of Life by expert, Barbara Karnes, RN

Zooming is certainly helpful but know as she progresses toward death she will not be able to respond, even to know you.  Continue the zooming and talking to her even when...

Rapid Heart Rate in the Dying

Their body is trying to keep going even while it is shutting down. The body's defenses are doing whatever they can to keep the body functioning THAT is why there...

Hospice Innovator Barbara Karnes, RN explains the 3 Signs of Approaching Death from Disease or Old Age

 Know that all of these signs of approaching death, whether indicating months or weeks, are just guideposts. Some people will show all of them...

End of Life Expert, Barbara Karnes, RN explains the use of narcotics in hospice care.

There are so many reasons your father could have been receiving medicine by a “needle”. I am not fond of IV or giving medication by a “needle” as end of...

End of Life Educator, Barbara Karnes, RN author of GONE FROM MY SIGHT, The Dying Experience, writes about possible changes in personality during the dying process

First, what is meant by “dying person”? In the months before death most people really don’t believe they are dying. “Other people die, not me. There will be a cure,...

NHPCO Hospice Innovator, Barbara Karnes, RN writes about caring for a patient with ALS as they approach end of life

Our children are not supposed to die before we do. I cannot think of any grief more intense than watching our child deteriorate before our eyes. We grieve their dying...

NHPCO Hospice Innovator, Barbara Karnes, RN speaks to those who are unable to be with their loved one at the time of death. www.bkbooks.com

Our job as an end of life specialist is to address the elephant in the room, to be direct and honest in the gentlest way possible. We are not doing...

NHPCO Hospice Innovator, Barbara Karnes, RN speaks to those who are unable to be with their loved one at the time of death. www.bkbooks.com

People are dying and in a manner we are not used to. We, in America, have become accustomed to having our loved one either at home with family close, or...

Award winning End of Life Educator, Barbara Karnes, RN writes about how necessary grief support is right now in her article, Bereavement Support Is Important At ANy Time, Now, It is Vital

Hospice Bereavement support, as well as any bereavement support program (church, Community Support, Senior Activity Program) is important during the best of times. Now it is vital.  Here are my recommendations;...

Taking Some of the Fear Out of Dying Alone by end of life expert, Barbara Karnes, RN

I see families devastated by not being able to be with their loved one as they are dying. I am writing this for any person who is faced with a...

Did the AIDS Epidemic Set Us Up To Handle COVID-19? by Barbara Karnes, RN

There are many of the same circumstances with today’s coronavirus as we faced with  HIV/AIDS in the early years— lack of medical knowledge, lack of guidance, and fear. I think...

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