Conversations and Cake: Death Cafes Around the World
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...
Something to Think About: a blog on end of life
All The Ways We Have For Saying Our Final Goodbyes
We used to have grandma’s body “laid out” in the parlor and family and friends came to our home with support and food. Grandma died in the home and we...
Using Palliative Sedation At End of Life
When the terminal illness, the disease progression, has been a pain filled experience and all comfort management options have been unsuccessful, then sleep is our friend...
It's Okay Not To Eat! Food At End of Life
My husband Jack has been dead eight months. In processing the five months from his diagnosis to his death, what stands out most for me is the tension that surrounded food....
How Do You Train Your Hospice Volunteers?
I am hearing stories about the lack of professional staff training for new hires, which led me to wonder about volunteer training...
Keep No Secrets From Those at End of Life
When working with families who ask me not to tell mom, I say that I won’t bring the subject up, but if she asks, I will talk about it.
"I’m Fine," The Universal Response From Grievers
What do I, the sufferer, want from you then, if “how are you?” doesn’t work?
None of Us Really Knows When Death Will Come
By not writing out our end of life wishes, organizing our material affairs, and talking to those involved, we are putting ourselves and those close to us in the hands, minds, and...
The Maps We Need to Care For the Dying
Because of knowledge we’ve lost when people began dying in places other than home, we judge approaching death by the treatments and procedures used in getting people better...
Adjusting After Our Person Has Died
It is a challenging part of life, both emotionally and physically, to figure out how to live productively when this person is no longer with us...
“Who will take care of us when we can’t take care of ourselves?”
Unfortunately, as death approaches none of us will be able to take care of ourselves. There will come a point when we will need assistance. We probably won’t even be aware we...
Developing a Cooperative Relationship Between Nursing Facilities and Hospice
For many people, nursing facilities have become their home. It is therefore reasonable that Hospice services be available in facilities. BUT care in a facility is not the same as...