My Husband Was Dying. I Was Being Ignored.
These stories are not for everyone, but they are topics that the author believes shouldn't remain in the silence. (Continue reading ...)
End-Of-Life Conversations Can Be Hard, But Your Loved Ones Will Thank You
End-of-life conversations can ease suffering for families, not just patients. You can start these conversations simply, like saying, “I need to think about the future. Can you help me?” (Continue reading ...)
The Legacy Of A Life While Contemplating A Good Death
On Saturday, February 18, 2023, when the Carter Center announced that former President Jimmy Carter would be receiving hospice care at home, I was both saddened by what this decision essentially means for the former president, and intrigued by the possibility of having broader discussions about hospice and, more specifically, end-of-life doulas. (Continue reading ...)
Quality Of Life At The End Of Life
The lawsuit does not attack the right of patients to access medical aid in dying, which is the heart of the bill. Rather, it challenges provisions of the law that require providers to inform patients of the availability of medical aid in dying, and to refer those patients to a willing provider if the patient’s primary provider is unable or is unwilling for any reason. (Continue reading ...)
You’re Suing Me BECAUSE I Kept Your Husband Alive?
“They made the end of his life horrible and painful and humiliating,” Elaine Greenberg said. “What’s the sense of having a living will if it’s not honored?” (Continue reading ...)
What Is A Good Death? How To Die Well.
Decisions are often made unilaterally without necessarily considering what the one dying wants or needs. A respectful death involves truly listening to the dying and being open and honest with them and the family. (Continue reading ...)
How to Research Your Hospice (and Avoid Hospice Fraud)
When done right, hospice offers Medicare beneficiaries an intimate, holistic and vital service. But sometimes pinpointing what constitutes a "good death" is nearly as difficult as determining what makes a good life, and families do not always realize when hospice is failing them. (Continue reading ...)
“I Refuse To Have A Terrible Death”: The Rise Of The Death Wellness Movement
“We can’t keep up with our waitlist,” Arnoldy says of skyrocketing interest in the program. “The last time we opened up registration, the applicants crashed our system.” (Continue reading ...)
The “Good” Death
A "good" death is one in which you exert maximum autonomy over your end-of-life journey. Here are some checklists for what needs to be done. (Continue reading ...)
Times to Have “The Conversation”
“The rest is up to you,” he finally said, ending the conversation for good. He didn’t have any more guidance, and certainly no more patience to talk about it. I was surprised. To me, it felt slightly irresponsible to leave all these decisions to other people. (Continue reading ...)