The Words We Use When It Comes to Death
Our job as end of life workers is to educate. We walk a thin line. Our words can be heard and misunderstood so easily. They can be interpreted differently than...
Something to Think About: a blog on end of life
The Difficulties of Being Discharged From Hospice Care
Why is the patient being discharged, you ask? Is it because the patient just didn’t decline as rapidly as expected? Yes, that can be the situation...
Protect The Wound Your Heart Is Carrying
Grief is like an open wound. When we healthcare workers experience a personal loss, every patient scrapes open our own wound of personal grief.
There may not be another time... Teach.
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...
Movies make dying look comfortable. What do you do when it’s not?
Our role models from movies and TV show us that dying is gentle, often poetic, certainly not scary or messy. Movies make dying look comfortable.
Caregiver Fear and Frustration When Food Is Rejected
As caregivers, we want so much to do the “right thing” for our special person. We know death is coming but still try to do all we can to stop...
When Our Emotions Blind Us From What Is Happening
I knew all the signs of approaching death, of labor beginning. What I didn’t know was how much we don’t want to see those signs, and by not wanting to see them,...
Addressing Realistic Timelines for the Dying
Addressing the timelines of approaching death also neutralizes the false hope that our person will get better, that there is more time.
What Do I Do? Mom Has Progressive Cancer and is Refusing Hospice
Tell her honestly what you are feeling and ask for help. Just FYI: she can sign on for hospice and if she felt she needed to go to the emergency...
As Unique As Each Death Is, There Are Also Commonalities
When we begin the gradual dying process our personality tends to intensify. If we are an angry person we will get angrier. If we have a gentle personality we will...
Demystifying Narcotics for Pain at End of Life
Not everyone who is dying has pain. Disease causes pain. If pain is not present, a narcotic is not appropriate (except a tiny bit can ease labored breathing is present...
"Am I Going To Die Today?"
When doctors and healthcare professionals place a number on how long someone has to live they are doing that person a disservice.