Hospice

Black and white image shows a very old man in a gray-toned sweater. He's seated and holding his hand up to his face, palm in. His expression shows confusion and fear.

Life As a Caregiver: Making Tough Care Decisions

Many of us feel honored to provide care for our aging parents or ill spouses, but this honor can also present serious challenges. Even...

The image shows an older woman in bed. S he's got gray hair and is wearing a blue nightgown. She smiles at a younger woman who is sitting on the edge of the bed reading to her from a book. The younger woman wears a scooped necked yellow shirt jeans.

Confused About Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care? You Aren’t Alone

Dear Carol: My mom has advanced lung disease as well as late-stage Alzheimer’s. We know that there are no cures for either of her...

Middle aged man with dark skin and shaved head, has hands placed on top of bent head. Grief is written on his downturned face.

Breaking the News That a Loved One is Going on Hospice Care

When the paperwork was finally signed to get hospice care for my dad, I was grateful. There would now be a routine of care...

Image shows a curtained background with a happy older couple in the foreground. T he man stands with his arm around the woman's shoulders. He has gray hair and a white beard and wears a blue and white plaid shirt. The smiling woman has short white hair and is wearing a scoop-necked blouse or gown in a small blue print on a white background.

Admitting Loved One to Hospice Is Emotional, but Understanding Process Helps

Dear Carol: I’m crushed and uncertain how to move forward. My wife, 74, has spent years battling cancer with some success and a reasonable...

Background shows open patio door with grass beyond. Foreground shows younger woman with loing brown hair and whtie sweater sitting at a table with old woman in a green shirt and gray sweater. Their faces imply that they are having a pleasant talk

Why Caregivers Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Calling Hospice

A billboard in my city carries a simple message: “Most families say, ‘Why did we wait so long to call hospice?’ “ When I...

An image of hospice care where a younger man comforts and older adult lying in bed

Hospice Care: Help During End Stages of Life

Each time I walked into Dad’s room in the nursing home, he would be rigid in bed, propped up on one elbow and slamming...

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...

When Loved Ones Rally Before Death

Family members are often relieved and hopeful when a dying loved one suddenly becomes more aware of their surroundings or begins talking or eating...

How to Engage in Self-Care While Grieving

Many caregivers watch their loved ones endure a long, slow decline that will eventually end in death. As they age, we grieve every mental...

Caring For Those in Chronic Pain: How Caregivers Cope

Traditional marriage vows generally contain the words “through sickness and in health.” For some couples, chronic sickness in the form of a painful disease...