Pets. We may not always understand them, but we always love them – mostly for their silliness, loyalty, and overall comforting presence. We love them because they bring happiness into our lives and help us get through each day.
Grief is a normal and natural response when we suffer a loss. While everyone will experience a loss at some point, the symptoms of grief are often misunderstood – both by the people going through it and the people around them. By raising grief awareness, individuals in mourning can better understand their own reactions and their friends and loved ones can better support them with patience and compassion.
Years ago – when I first started working in hospice – dealing with implantable cardioverter defibrillators and pacemakers in hospice patients was essentially unheard of. As with everything in life, things change. More and more patients are being admitted to hospice with implantable cardioverter defibrillators and pacemakers. This can be an issue if not addressed.
“How would you want to be remembered?” If you are asked to put together an obituary for a loved one, friend, or acquaintance, contemplating that simple question might serve as a practical starting point.
One of the earliest signs of dementia is when a typically well-organized individual begins forgetting or missing appointments. While that might happen to anyone on occasion, individuals with dementia will experience increased difficulty with their sense of time and place.
One of the more well-known – and frequently misunderstood – end-of-life signs is terminal respiratory secretions. This symptom has come to be known in layman’s terms as “a death rattle” or “noisy breathing.” Helping families understand what a death rattle is can help alleviate their concerns.
