IF I WERE ——a funeral home I would give end of life education materials to all who are making prearrangement funerals plans. It is an opportunity to provide education in an area that will be needed someday. 

IF I WERE ——an attorney I would give my clients educational material on writing advance directives, so they can make informed choices.

IF I WERE —— an employee of a doctor’s office I would have in the reception area end of life information handouts as reading materials.

IF I WERE  —— a physician I would have end of life materials to give to my patients that were approaching the end of their life. Patients I was having a difficult time fixing. It is part of my healing skills to guide them through their last breath.

IF I WERE —— a social worker I would have on hand end of life education materials to offer to clients who are living with life threatening situations. Family members who are struggling with the challenge of caring for an elderly family member will also benefit greatly from the knowledge of what lies ahead.

IF I WERE ——an administrator of a nursing facility I would educate ALL of my staff in how to provide end of life care, in recognizing the signs of approaching death, and in the dynamics of dying to ensure that they have the tools to provide compassionate, knowledgable care.

Dying isn’t like it is in the movies. We don’t know what it is like to die from disease or old age and while everyone is going to do it, most people are not prepared with the knowledge of what will happen and particularly what to do while dying is happening.

IF I WERE ——a hired Caregiver I would educate myself in the specialty of end of life care so that I can be a resourceful presence.

IF I WERE ——a hospice worker I would educate, support, and guide people who can’t be fixed (and their families) toward a gentle death.

IF I WERE  —— an end of life doula I would be a consistent presence for those living with a life threatening illness. I would make every effort to be present in the hours to moments before death. I do not want them or their family to be alone.

IF I WERE —— an end of life educator I would be that voice saying “Pay attention! Everyone needs this knowledge. Let me help you learn before you need it and be there when you do need it. Let me comfort you with knowledge, gentleness, and a presence as you travel this very normal part of life.”

Something More about…  IF I WERE — a funeral home, a hospice worker, an attorney, a physician, a social worker, a nursing facility…

As an end of life educator, I say, “Pay Attention!”.  I have resources to help you learn, to comfort you and help you understand the normal, natural way the body diesKnowledge reduces fear.  Let me help you. Here are some tools to help educate:

A must for educating staff (and meets medicare credentials) – THIS IS HOW PEOPLE DIE

A must for families with a dying loved one – GONE FROM MY SIGHT, The Eleventh HourNEW RULES for End of Life Care

Bereavement–  My Friend, I Care: The Grief Experience

Originally Published on https://bkbooks.com/blogs/something-to-think-about

Barbara Karnes Registered Nurse

Barbara Karnes, RN Award Winning End of Life Educator, Award Winning Nurse, NHPCO Hospice Innovator Award Winner 2018 & 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year

While at the bedside of hundreds of people during the dying process, Hospice Pioneer Barbara Karnes noticed that each death was following a near identical script. Each person was going through the stages of death in almost the same manner and most families came to her with similar questions. These realizations led Barbara to sit down and write Gone From My Sight, "The Little Blue Book" that changed the hospice industry.

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