Death and dying

This indoor image shows large windows with a blurred view of a large white building. Inside, in the freground, we see an older man with dark skin and white cropped, curly hair. He wears a navy long sleeved shirt. He holds out one arm toward his helper who is a younger woman. She has dark skin, black surly, puffy hair, and is wwearing a light yellow cardigan over a white surplice top with jeans. She holes the man's arm as she tries to help him balance.

When Older Adults Won’t Accept In-home Caregivers

Hiring in-home care for my elderly neighbor, Joe, was quite an ordeal. The company we chose and their professional caregivers were great, but the...

How to Communicate with a Senior Who Can No Longer Speak

Years ago, I stumbled upon a video that remains vivid in my mind. In it, an elderly couple who had spent a lifetime devoted...

This indoor image shows a woman who looks to be of middle eastern heritage. She's got shoulder length black hair and is wearting a turquoise paisley top and turquoise enhanced necklace. Her expression is one of puzzlement.

Minimizing Grief for a Surviving Spouse with Dementia

Deciding whether to tell someone who is cognitively impaired that their spouse has died is a serious and often recurring struggle. Dementia and death...

This black and white image has a plain dark background. In the foreground is an older African American woman with curly white hair. Whe's got her eyes closed and is wearing a sad expression, with her head tilted upward. She's wearing a light colored print top.

How to Talk About a Friend’s Death When Someone Has Dementia

A friend recently faced the task of letting her mother, who has mid-level dementia, know that the mother’s elderly brother had died. This death...

This outdoor images shows blurred green bushes over some brick in the background. In the foreground, we see an older man with thick white hair and light skin wearing navy blue button up shirt. He is looking slight downward as he covers his mouth and one cheek with his left hand. We see a gold wedding band on his ring finger.

Caregiver Guilt: How to Stop Feeling Guilty About Elderly Parents

Get used to it—the guilt, I mean. The incessant phone call thing was just one of the many games I had to play as...

Is It Normal to Grieve Before Someone Dies?

Nearly everyone involved in caring for an ill or aging loved one is experiencing some degree of grief. However, we don’t usually identify the...

Hospice Care: Help During End Stages of Life

…We knew Dad was wearing down. He didn’t have long to live, but did he have to be in such discomfort? I wanted him...

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Music-Thanatology: Providing Harmony at the End of Life

The mission of hospice providers is to help people live their last months or weeks of life in the most comfortable, dignified, and satisfying...

This indoor image shows two cupped hands containg small pills. One is a white capsule, one is a small round orange tablet.

Losing the Ability to Swallow: How to Help Someone With Dysphagia

Coping with an ill loved one’s difficulty swallowing can be frustrating and frightening for everyone involved. Caring for someone we love means nurturing and...