Something to Think About
a blog on end of life
Physicians are often asked how long someone has to live, but the truth is no one can predict an exact timeline. Dying follows a natural process with recognizable signs that...
Hospice volunteers are at the heart of end-of-life care—but their role goes far beyond what most people understand. Let's look at what draws people to this work, why self-awareness matters,...
Most of us don’t think about healthcare decisions until something is wrong. But in crisis, emotions take over and clear thinking becomes difficult. Planning ahead—through an advance directive and sharing...
Hospice and palliative care are not the same—and understanding that difference matters. If the goal is comfort and a natural death, certain medical interventions no longer fit. Let’s talk about...
Sometimes the question is not how long we can live, but how we want to live with the time we have.
Grief doesn’t follow a timeline or a set of stages. If you’ve ever questioned your feelings after a loss, you’re not alone—and nothing you’re feeling is wrong.
Those of us who work in end-of-life care walk beside people and families during one of the most intimate times of life. Because of the emotional nature of this work,...
Sounds, restlessness, and physical changes can be unsettling to witness, but they usually don't mean there is suffering. Understanding what is normal can ease fear for those keeping vigil.
Sudden death does not follow the usual patterns of dying. One moment a person is alive, and the next they are gone. There is no preparation, no final words, no...
Eating less. Sleeping more. Turning inward. What if this is the quiet work of old age?
Hospice volunteers do intimate work at the bedside.Preparing them for that role requires education and clear boundaries.
A reflection on the quiet, often overlooked work of grief—learning how to live as a “me” instead of a “we.” Through the story of “Pajama Sunday,” I share how new...
Years ago, a 3 a.m. hospice call changed the way I thought about caring for families at the bedside.It led me to write down what I wanted families to know...
We educate families about the dying process, but too often no one is there when death actually happens...
Just as there are short labors and long labors in birth, there are short and long transitions at the end of life. Recognizing these parallels can help families worry less...
When I was 17, I was told to sit with a dying patient — alone. I didn’t know then how profoundly that moment would shape my life’s work...
Many of us avoid thinking about death, assuming it won’t affect us or our loved ones—until it does. This article explores advance directives, DNRs, and why understanding these choices matters...
Grief can feel heavier this time of year, especially when the world expects celebration while your heart is grieving.
In the final days and hours, a person may “wait” for someone to arrive—or let go when everyone is out of the room. Hospice nurse Barbara Karnes, RN, explains the...
Most of us aren’t taught what dying actually looks like. When death isn’t sudden, there are natural signs and changes that unfold over months, weeks, and days. Understanding these patterns...
Guilt is part of love’s shadow — the echo of what we wish we’d done differently. Healing begins when we release that burden and let how we live now be...
