The hospice team treats the whole person. This means hospice treats physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. Hospice doesn't just manage pain. It shows patients how to best cope with the illness. The team also offers counseling, grief support, and family support. Hospice care is provided by a core group of professionals. Most hospice teams also have counselors, therapists, and other … [Read more...]
Is Hospice Right for You?
The answer is that it depends. Hospice is put in place when a patient has six months or less to live and that is determined by a doctor in order to certify it. If you have a terminal illness or Alzheimer's you may very well qualify, but you will need to be approved first. Hospices will send out a doctor to see you and admit you in the event you do qualify. … [Read more...]
End of Life Developmental Milestones and Tasks
Below is a framework from Dr. Ira Byock that outlines some of the issues many people can comtemplate as they approach the end. Sense of completion with worldly affairsSense of completion in relationships with communitySense of meaning about one's individual lifeExperiencing self loveExperiencing love of othersSense of completion in relationships with family and friendsAcceptance of the finality … [Read more...]
A Journey Through Grief
As you go through the stages of grief, everyone experiences it differently. Everyone is unique and the relationships we build are unique as well. Only you know how to feel in the moment. You may have heard about the stages of grieving. It doesn't exactly work that way. You may feel completely different as each day passes with no discernable pattern. You can start to feel out of control or … [Read more...]
The Idea of a “Good Death”
No one likes to think or talk about death and dying. But it's a reality we all face-more and more people are taking charge of how they will live out their final days. This becoming known as the "good death." Through life, we want to have as many new experiences as possible but in the end what really matters are the simple things. This is found in many cultures and known as socioemotional … [Read more...]