This time of year is always associated with new beginnings, more so now that we are entering not just a new year but a new decade. Not knowing what comes next many people become optimistic, make resolutions, make big plans and look forward to many events. All of this, though, may seem at odds with hospice care. We are of […]
For people that have not spent much time with hospice patients or hospice care the idea of taking the time to celebrate while someone is on dying might seem strange. It does, on the surface, appear not to be the time to celebrate, but of course it can be one of the most important times to celebrate. For the patients, […]
Anyone that has lost someone knows that the pain of that loss does not just vanish after a certain amount of time has passed. The rest of the world may have started to move on again, but when you lose someone you love you may still feel stuck in grief for a long time after everyone else stops asking about […]
Holidays can be a difficult time if you’ve recently lost someone. They can be hard even if you lost someone years ago. So many sights, smells, events, and people are around at the holiday’s that remind you of those that aren’t there. This has the effect of making the holidays harder when you’ve lost people. Yet it does not have […]
We remember people all of the time. We are built and shaped and guided by the memories of the people we have lost in life. Anything we do might trigger a memory at anytime, so why, then, do we get together for memorials? Why do we build monuments and hold ceremonies and do all of the things that we do […]
On this Veteran’s Day all of us collectively take time to remember those we have lost in the past. Of course this is a day honoring people who have fallen in the service of their country, for those that have given their all defending the USA, but it is also a somber day of nationwide remembrance for all those we […]
Today, November 8, 2019, is the 1 year anniversary of the Camp Fire that killed 85 people in Paradise, CA. The tragedy hit everyone in the area in one way or another, we all know someone who was forced to relocated, or we know someone who has lost someone, or we know someone who was lost. Our hearts and thoughts […]
People can sometimes think that taking care of themselves when they are a caregiver for someone else is something that is a selfish or mean act. That somehow making sure that we are doing well and coping with everything around us, what we are experiencing and feeling and processing, is causing harm to those we are caring for. Yet not […]
So many things about end of life care are difficult to contemplate. This is of course very normal for anyone, to not want to think about it, but at times it does become important to understand what the process of hospice is and what makes it a special part of the care process. Once someone has been placed on hospice […]
Becoming a hospice volunteer might seem like a daunting tasks. Working with people facing serious illness at the end of their lives can, of course, be emotionally and physically challenging for any volunteer. Yet the benefits of volunteering can be immense. You may learn the value of a life well lived, the importance of community, friends, and family at the […]