Most Mexicans Fear Death and Don’t Talk About It
Does celebrating the Day of the Dead mean Mexicans welcome death? Not necessarily, according to one prominent end-of-life expert in Mexico. (Continue reading ...)
A Coordinator’s Perspective
Guest contributor Susie Y. offers a glimpse into the role of Coordinator, the first point of contact for anyone seeking guidance from FEN. (Continue reading ...)
Transition–an end and a new beginning
This blog post represents the end of three years of work for me. In August, responsibility for the blog is being transferred to the capable hands of FEN board member Kevin Bradley. (Continue reading ...)
Excerpts from the book “Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life”–PART 2
Dr. Jessica Nutik Zitter, MD, MPH, shares two more vignettes from her book "Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life." The book provides an insider’s view of intensive care in America and its impact on how we die. (Continue reading ...)
Excerpts from the book “Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life”–Part 1
This week's post includes two vignettes from the book "Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life" by Dr. Jessica Nutik Zitter, MD, MPH. The book provides an insider’s view of intensive care in America and its impact on how we die. Part 2 will appear next week. (Continue reading ...)
Is a “good death” a viable option
Two weeks ago, I spoke to about twenty people at the regular weekly meeting of the Ethical Society of Austin (Texas). The topic was the seven choices available to a person who becomes afflicted with dementia. I began by asking what, for them, are the characteristics of a "good death." In about ten minutes, the group offered ideas that suggest a "good death" is a viable option, with some universal characteristics, in spite of some voices to the contrary. (Continue reading ...)
Options near the end of life–Exploring Parkinson’s
My wife and I had occasion to visit some old friends in California recently. We have known one member of the couple since 1962, when we started college together. We last saw them almost three years ago and have stayed in touch through email and phone calls. David has Parkinson's Disease (PD), so we knew that we would likely find him in worse shape than the last time we saw him, when his main symptom was a slight tremor in his hands and a shuffling gait when he walked. Lois had given us reports that he was working on therapies to counter the effects of the Parkinson's. (Continue reading ...)
Strategy for a Care Giver’s Survival
For the last several years of his wife Jackie's fatal illness–Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD)–Lew Lorton was her caregiver and maintained a blog he titled "Just A Guy Muddling Through" about his experiences and thoughts. In this post, he explains some guidelines he developed to help himself through the experience. (Continue reading ...)
Anticipating and Deflecting the Worst Effects of Our End-of-Life Milieu
FEN members, more so than the citizenry at large, are dedicated to the goal of dying in peace. However, I suspect that FEN members, very much like most everyone else, may inadvertently misconstrue the meaning of the phrase “to die in peace” and what it may take to achieve given our society’s end-of-life milieu.… (Continue reading ...)
Nursing homes and an increased incidence of suicide
Are patients in nursing homes more likely to die from suicide? A look at a recent report on the subject in the Annals of Long-Term Care. (Continue reading ...)