Oftentimes, we feel we need to “fix” or “save” those who suffer deeply and yet the best thing we can do is offer ourselves in simple presence and attention. Doing this creates a space for the other person to show…

Caring is a natural extension of our humanity. When faced with a family member or loved one’s terminal diagnosis, we may feel helpless—at a loss for words to comfort or actions to help. What’s important to remember is that we…

Our story began in 1982, when a few community volunteers learned about the hospice concept – providing compassionate, caring, and professional end-of-life care – and thought, “we need to do this in our community!” If you ask the staff, volunteers…

Policymakers and stakeholders seeking to learn more about Medicare benefits of hospice can do so in a new publication released by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in March 2019, titled Hospice: Leading Interdisciplinary Care.  The final report,…

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias have a slow progression making families unsure as to when their loved one becomes eligible for hospice by meeting the established criteria for dementia. There is a six-month prognosis eligibility requirement, which may cause a…

Watching someone you love pass can be a stressful experience. As the end nears, it can become overwhelming to put your loved one into hospice care. The knowledge itself that they have only a few months to live can be…

Margaret was an 82 year-old-woman suffering from cancer and dementia, who was admitted to hospice while staying in her daughter’s home.  After several months of steady decline from the diseases, Margaret did not speak anymore and in her bed-ridden state…

You don’t need a lawyer for this kind of will. Unlike legal wills, ethical wills are not written by lawyers, but by you. They can include for the future, apologies to those you fear you may have hurt or gratitude…

After the death of a loved one, the intense amount of emotions that come with grief can heighten many of the fears that run through your mind—that person’s death fears about your own mortality, or worry about losing someone else.…

Whether you’re a friend or family member, coworker or acquaintance, it can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is terminally ill or in hospice. Here are suggestions from experts and patients on conversations, suggestions, and the…