“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...
Something to Think About: a blog on end of life
Family
Who Are You Remembering This Holiday Season?
Death has touched us all, some more recently than others. Grief has no actual timeline, no end point where we are suddenly “fine”. Each of us responds to our loss...
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...
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,...
"I'm So Angry That He's Sick!"
Anger in caregiving generally comes from a place of frustration, of fear, of sadness, of tiredness. All sorts of feelings with no outlet so they come bursting out.
"Believers" and "Non-Believers" Facing End of Life? Is There A Difference?
We human beings are complicated creatures. We approach death in the way we have approached living and according to our personality. Our belief systems are part of that living. Sometimes...
Why I Believe a Person Should Be Told They Can't Be Fixed
Number one, we are all going to die at some point. Of course the operative words here are “at some point.” If we are told death will be the outcome...
Holiday Celebrations and the Grief-Wound
We tend to play the “elephant in the room” game at the mention of our missing loved one. “If we don’t talk about how sad we are feeling we won’t...
Letting Some Light In This Holiday Season
First we have to recognize that to some degree we are all grieving this season. Then we make a conscious decision to lift the heavy veil and peek beyond it, let a...
Trying To Understand Grief
Grief is whole bunch of normal emotions rolled up into a package we call grieving. It isn’t new emotions. It is our emotions. It is how we have handled everything...
When Kids Talk About Death
We, as a people, are never truly prepared for death but with guidance, honestly, and gentleness we, as caregivers for those people, can ease the fear and uncertainty most bring to the...
Cleaning Out Their Belongings After Death
First, if you don’t have to clean out belongings, don’t for awhile, wait even months if necessary. There can be great comfort found in putting on an unwashed sweater of...