Some Advice On How to Handle The Loss Of A Loved One
You’re heartbroken? Maybe you’re upset. Or making an effort to understand it all, why did this need to occur? Why at this time? What will life be like now that you’ve lost your loved one? A simple explanation that works … Read More
Honoring Loved Ones: How to Make a Memory Journal
You’ve lost someone special, and your heart aches with their absence. While the pain may fade over time, your love for them will not. One way to honor their memory and ensure their impact lives on is by creating a … Read More
The Heart-Wrenching Reality of Caring for Dying Patients
It was another busy day in the intensive care unit, and I was already feeling exhausted before my shift had even begun. But as soon as I walked through the door, I knew I had to put on a brave … Read More
Activities To Do With A Loved One As They Get Closer To The End
Caring for a loved one near the end of their life can be challenging, especially for your loved one who doesn’t want to feel like a burden. During this delicate period, creating meaningful memories and engaging your loved one in … Read More
The Cycle of Life, Illness, Suffering, Death, Grieving and Healing
Life, Illness, Suffering, Death, Grieving and Healing is the cycle of life we all have been through. Terminal illness and end-of-life care are heart-breaking realities for many people and their families. It is a difficult journey filled with pain, sadness, … Read More
Practical Holiday Tips
Holidays can be enjoyable despite the limitations and stress of caring for loved ones. These moments can help build strong memories and give you something to look back at and smile upon. Be Realistic In Setting Your Expectations Take Care … Read More
Overcoming Grief, A Mourner’s Compass.
Grief can be overwhelming and all-consuming when it comes to the death of a loved one. Whether the loss is expected or not, we’re never sure of how we will cope and it never goes quite as planned. No matter … Read More
Coping With Caregiver Guilt
How to Cope with Caregiver Guilt: A Compassionate and Informed Guide for Caregivers What is Caregiver guilt? Caring for a loved one is an act of compassion and dedication that often comes with its own set of challenges. Caregivers selflessly … Read More
Hospice Care: A Chance At Feeling Whole Again
Hospice may sound like an uncomfortable subject to discuss because of the painful matter at hand, which is the thought of losing a loved one. This results it to be often misunderstood, becoming a topic many families and patients avoid … Read More
Engaging Activities for Dementia Patients: Keeping Loved Ones Active
“Dementia resembles delirium in the same way an ultra-marathon resembles a dash across the street. Same basic components, vastly different scale. If you’ve run delirium’s course once or twice in your life, try to imagine a version that never ends.” … Read More
Watching from the Sidelines – The Value of Time
The value of time is priceless. It is more precious than any treasure the world may carry because it is something you can never recover once used. Observing the end of one’s life is no easy task. It is taxing … Read More
Embracing The Journey: Compassionate Guide for Cancer Patients on Hospice Care
Over the years as a nurse, I’ve had the privilege of being part of many patients’ deeply personal journeys. Each person’s story, especially those courageously battling cancer, is their own, filled with memories, hopes, fears, and dreams. From my experiences … Read More
Bridging Medicine and Humanity: Reflections on Hospice Care
As a young doctor, I was often confronted with the tangible frailty of human life. My medical training had equipped me with the technical knowledge to treat diseases, but nothing prepared me for the profound human experiences that unfolded in … Read More
Dealing with Uncontrolled Pain
During my tenure, I’ve encountered instances where unconscious patients later recollected the painful procedures they underwent. After regaining consciousness, they share accounts of the painful experiences they underwent because their pain wasn’t managed. Witnessing their tears shed light on a … Read More
Hospice isn’t about dying any more. It’s about living. Living to your fullest extent in the time God has given you.
No one wants to put their loved one on hospice. Yet, hospice exists to fulfill that void we feel deep down within ourselves we have when caring for a loved one and we feel very alone. More importantly, hospice exists … Read More
Spending Valuable Time With A Loved One In Decline
If you know someone close to you who is declining, you might be unsure of how to make the most out of the time you have left with them. After all, it’s a precious stage you have with them, and … Read More
Pet Therapy In Hospice
In times of the deterioration of one’s health, maintaining physical and mental well-being is crucial in sustaining a comfortable lifestyle, especially in hospice. Therapy through pets has proven to bring countless benefits to fulfilling emotional needs, as well as having … Read More
Handling The Affairs Of Loved Ones After They Die
Losing a spouse, parent or loved one is emotionally taxing and challenging. In addition to dealing with your own grief, you must handle numerous phone calls, mountains of paperwork in addition to your own personal affairs. It can get overwhelming … Read More
Hospice Nurses: Compassionate Guides through Life’s Final Journey
A hospice is an establishment that focuses on providing the best quality of life and comfort to chronically ill patients. Nurses play a vital role in delivering high-quality care. They work hard to ensure patients are as comfortable as possible … Read More
Understanding the Compassionate World of Hospice Care: More Than Just End-of-Life Support
Hospice care, often misunderstood, is a specialized form of care aimed at providing comfort and quality of life for individuals at the end of their life’s journey. It’s not just about medical care in the final days but a comprehensive … Read More
Living Longer, Better, Happier on Hospice
Yes, you heard me. Contrary to popular opinion, patients on hospice who are receiving supportive care, do live longer. They are happier, and they enjoy a better quality of life. How is this possible? After all, hospice is just about … Read More
Breaking Hard News: Helping Children Understand the Loss of a Loved One in Hospice Care
Grieving the loss of a loved one in hospice care is a tremendously painful experience, especially when you are trying to help a child understand it. In this article, I hope to provide a steady, sympathetic resource to help you … Read More
Can Someone in a Coma Still Hear? Navigating Caregiving and Conversations in Hospice
A coma is a state of deep unconsciousness that can be brought on by various medical conditions, such as severe brain injuries or certain illnesses. For loved ones and caregivers, it raises many questions, one of which is whether someone … Read More
What Does Transitioning Mean?
Transitioning is a very specific term in hospice care. It refers to the final stages of a person’s life. It is recognized by trained hospice personnel by the changes in a patient’s body that signal that the patient is likely … Read More
What Does A Hospice Chaplain Do?
Hospice chaplains are very seasoned professionals who provide spiritual and emotional support to their patients and families during the end-of-life care. There are a variety of services that they can offer to them to provide comfort, such as: attentive listening, … Read More
Thoughtful Gifts for Hospice Patients: A Guide to Compassionate Giving
When a loved one is receiving hospice care, finding ways to express love, care, and support becomes a priority for many families and friends. However, selecting an appropriate gift for someone in hospice can be challenging. The key is to … Read More
Yes, Patients Live Longer on Hospice Than Without Hospice Services.
I get asked the same question over and over again. How can you say someone lives on hospice longer? Isn’t hospice to help people die, and don’t they just die within a few days? What most patients and families don’t … Read More
What Does A Hospice Social Worker Do?
Social Workers are professionals who provide emotional support and guidance to hospice patients and their families. A hospice social worker is a professional who provides support and assistance to individuals and families facing terminal illness or end-of-life care. They play … Read More
What is Hospice Care?
What is Hospice Care? Hospice care is a specialized form of end-of-life care that concentrates on providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support to individuals confronting a terminal illness or condition. A team of healthcare professionals, comprising physicians, nurses, social workers, … Read More
What Does A Hospice Nurse Do?
A hospice nurse plays a integral role in providing care and support to patients who are in the final stages of a terminal illness or nearing the end of their life. Their primary focus is on providing comfort, pain management, … Read More
10 Disheartening Reasons I Knew My Mother Needed To Start Hospice Care Immediately
10 disheartening reasons I knew my mother needed to start hospice care immediately “I’m sorry. Given your results, without chemo treatments you have less than 6 months to live.” stated the doctor as he lowered his head and slowly backed … Read More
Difficult Conversation About Death with Loved Ones
Difficult Conversation about Death with Loved Ones Life is a beautiful journey filled with moments of joy, love, and growth. Yet, it is also a journey that ultimately leads us toward the unavoidable destination- Death. While this sensitive topic may … Read More
The Pursuit Of A Good Death
Death is Inevitable It is how you go, what you did in the time you had here, and how you are remembered which is important. Death is a significant, normal part of life that all humans will eventually experience. For … Read More
How To Create Lasting Memories
We often wait for special occasions to snap a photo or video to catch that exact moment for a “perfect” shot. However, a lasting memory doesn’t have to be an event or a special occasion. Sometimes the best memories are … Read More
Jellybeans
The hardest thing about life isn’t death itself. The hardest thing about life is living alongside death. Side by side we coexist, doing whatever we can to make peace. We work to find comfort and acceptance, which is always easier … Read More
Rainbow Road – Navigating The Precious Time You Have Left
When my sister and I were younger, my grandparents absolutely loved going to a restaurant called Fresh Choice. We would go often and create an evening full of memories out of it. My grandparents lived close by to my parents’ … Read More