We grew up on stories – the uphill climb (both ways) in a blizzard, the thrill of a championship game, chasing chickens in the yard to ready them for dinner that night, where you met the love of your life, the first driving lesson….the list goes on. Why? Because we all love a good story.Continue reading “Who Doesn’t Love a Good Story?”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Every Story is Different
I recently spoke with Sarah, the Social Work Supervisor with Grace Hospice, to get her take on the role of a social worker at the end of life. As a doula and hospice volunteer, her comment “Every story is different” resonated with me. Every patient. Every family. Every journey. Every story. As a hospice volunteer,Continue reading “Every Story is Different”
Funeral Directors – Not Always the Man in Black
March 11 is National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day Your head is reeling from the death of your loved one. Funeral? Burial? Cremation? Celebration of Life? Zoom service (thank you, Covid-19 pandemic)? Online obituary? Sudden death? Expected death in hospice? Is this a child? Military personnel? Religious affiliation? Paperwork? And don’t forget to addContinue reading “Funeral Directors – Not Always the Man in Black”
Independent Seniors? We all know one ~ Let’s keep them that way!
February is Senior Independence Month. I bet you didn’t have that one on your calendar! Parents, friends, and relatives are aging better than before (outside of the Covid pandemic) and many are still living independently. While some seniors are still in their homes, many have moved into apartments, senior housing, assisted/independent living facilities, and aContinue reading “Independent Seniors? We all know one ~ Let’s keep them that way!”
This Big Puzzle Called Life
Judging by the posts on Facebook, I am not the only one breaking out a jigsaw puzzle to help pass the stay-home-and-stay-safe time. As I worked on puzzle #2, I realized a few things. In life, I sometimes try to fit pieces in where they don’t belong, but they might seemed right at the time.Continue reading “This Big Puzzle Called Life”
What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do
The current, and not-so-short-lived Covid-19 virus has created new challenges for us when we want to be at the bedside of our dying loved one. Maybe our visits are restricted due to the pandemic, work schedules, or geography. How do we connect with our loved one when we can’t be at the bedside? How doContinue reading “What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do”
To Grandma Walt
A Prayer Upon Learning of a Death by Eli Effinger-Weintraub [NAME], I honor the body that you were The words you spoke The passions that moved you The love you shared The life you lived. These were not always easy to live Or to live with But they were always you, And I honor youContinue reading “To Grandma Walt”
A Simple Chair Ritual for Comfort
Years ago, I was geographically far from a loved one when they were gravely ill. Feeling lonely and helpless can be overwhelming. If we can take a moment to catch our breath, those feelings will slowly get smaller and we can give ourselves the space to honor our loved one. The following chair ritual wasContinue reading “A Simple Chair Ritual for Comfort”
End-of-Life Doula Hotline
A group of doulas trained in compassionate listening, have launched a toll-free hotline for those who are struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic. I am humbled to be a part of this group – offering time and deep listening to those who are hurting and may not know where to turn for help. Along with listening,Continue reading “End-of-Life Doula Hotline”
National Healthcare Decisions Day
National Healthcare Decisions Day is today! This day is on the calendar to educate the public and the healthcare community about, well, their healthcare decisions. So many people avoid the conversation and the decision-making process because they are not sure what they want or what the future might hold. I advise my clients to planContinue reading “National Healthcare Decisions Day”