Last week we discussed fire-drilling your life-care plan. For myself and my care partner, Brian, a nightmarish “perfect storm” had thrown our professionally designed plan (built by me) into disarray. It called a number of factors into question and shed light on one key reality: a life-care plan must be flexible. Not that ours wasn’t. […]
It’s close to the end. You know it. Your family knows it. The doctor and medical staff know it. (“Close to the end” is a strange combination of perspective and reality. And “knowing it” is an exercise in faith and reality.) When is the time right for hospice care? Most hospice agencies say families and […]
Hospice and palliative care deliver many of the same services. They both ease pain and suffering from serious conditions. But there’s a significant difference between hospice and palliative care: the expected outcome. Palliative care is delivered when a medical condition, no matter how serious, is not at the moment considered to be life threatening. For example, […]
Your elderly mother rests comfortably in her bed upstairs, while a gathering of family members sit crying in the living room downstairs. A hospice nurse has just made her first home visit and administered some medication to quell a nasty coughing fit. Mom’s terminal illness has progressed greatly in recent weeks, and it’s clear to […]
Death doulas deliver compassionate care at end of life. They’re non-medical professionals known by many names: death coaches, soul midwives, transition guides and end-of-life coaches, among others. Much like birthing doulas ensure care and support to families as babies say hello to the world, death doulas provide holistic care and comfort as elders say goodbye. […]
No one wants to envision their dying moments. No one wants to picture a loved one dying, either. But death is a part of life, and it’s important to have important conversations about hospice before it’s too late. Hospice can deliver comfort and peace of mind. Pre-planning and deciding what you want your dying process […]
We always hope the end is comfortable — for ourselves and our loved ones. But life (and death) sometimes bring circumstances beyond our understanding or control. That’s where hospice comes in. It provides comfort and dignity to a dying person, family and friends. Death can be a painful and uncomfortable process, especially with terminal illnesses […]
