Something to Think About

We need to explain the way most people die — especially the not so pretty parts. This includes the sounds, movements, pees, poops, frowns, grimaces, and the struggles that accompany...

When we see our special person struggling, we, the watchers, think something pathological is happening or we think the professionals are not doing enough to provide proper care...

There are many different approaches and offerings. These multiple choices give you the chance to match your personality with the instructors and teaching methodology...

As end of life approaches, people start looking at their life; what they’ve accomplished, not done, who they have touched, interacted with, and the relationships they have or have not built...

I see Death Cafes as the start of a conversation; the start of opening ourselves up to exploring end of life issues; the start of breaking the belief that if I talk...

Someone has to have the courage to say “We’ve done the best we can. We can’t fix you. Let us help you have some quality time”.

Our body is programmed to die. We are born. We experience, and then we die...

The role of any end of life worker is to begin teaching  immediately, on the first visit -- teaching about approaching death, what to look for, and what to do. That’s...

We start off alone, then we have Mom and Dad, then family, friends, then the world of school, activities,and involvement in the bigger world around us. When we are leaving, we...

In the days to weeks before gradual death occurs a person realizes, at last, that they are dying. They may not share that realization with anyone, but they know. If...

Taking care of someone at the end of life is different from taking care of someone who is going to get better—-but most people don’t know that either. Unless we...

All the work we do leads up to the moment of death. Our goal is to guide and support those present through the moment the last breath occurs.

We cannot put a number on how long someone has to live. There are so many factors that affect the time of our gradual death that the closest anyone can...

In those last five months I tried for us to live in the present, to build good memories, to love, give and live in the moment...

I’ve always said I can teach anyone how to take care of someone who is dying, the physical, communication, supportive skills. It is the interpersonal, empathy, and heart skills that...

Since at this time there are no “standards of practice” or even standards for the content given in end of life training, think about what you are looking to provide....