When you think about a hospital emergency room, the first thing you might picture are ambulances racing up to deliver a patient who is facing death, while emergency room doctors and nurses work frantically to keep them alive.
If your idea of a heart attack is a man clutching his chest, there’s a good reason for that. Younger men are far more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than women. Despite this, heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, but their symptoms and outcomes are quite different depending on which gender is facing them.
Please forgive me. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you. These four seemingly simple phrases begin Dr. Ira Byock’s book The Four Things That Matter Most. Byock is a leading palliative care physician and advocate for quality of life and quality of care for people living with advanced medical conditions.
Winter’s long, dark days can be a difficult time for those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Chilly days and icy sidewalks can limit time outdoors, forcing caregivers to get creative with engaging activities for their loved one with dementia.
Holidays can be very difficult for those who have lost a loved one. Valentine’s Day can be especially hard if you are mourning the death of your spouse or partner. Stores decorated in pink and red, emphasizing love and romance, can feel especially cruel for someone filled with grief and loneliness, regardless of how much time has passed since their partner’s death.
When someone is facing a serious accident or illness, they probably expect that their partner can step in to provide care and make healthcare decisions. Unfortunately, unmarried partners are often prevented from making medical and financial decisions for their partners without the proper paperwork.
