Posts Tagged ‘care’
Why do we Fear Death?
Why do we fear death? Maybe it’s because it is the Great Unknown. I’ve found that it’s only by inching toward it that we get a little comfortable with the idea that it is everyone’s ultimate destination. The call came at 10:15 on a Sunday morning. It was Lana, the hospice nurse, calling to let…
Read MoreHow to Listen to a Grieving Person
How to listen to a grieving person is a valuable life skill that can be learned. “We’ve said our goodbyes to each other,” Janet choked the words out. I turned to look at her 59-year-old husband Ted who was deeply sedated, but more at peace than he’d been a couple of days ago. Ted was in our hospice…
Read MoreWaiting for A Loved One to Die
Waiting for a loved one to die is like walking on hot coals. When you know a loved one’s death is approaching, you experience anticipatory grief. In other words, death hasn’t occurred yet, but it is coming. Anticipatory grief can be easy or hard, depending on the kind of person you are. Some people like…
Read MoreWhat are the needs of the dying?
What are the needs of the dying? Over the weeks and months following the grim diagnosis of terminal illness or a debilitating injury, your loved one experiences many losses. Once a healthy, functional, productive individual they begin to suffer a severe loss of identity. The valued role they played is soon a thing of the past. How…
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