In the early 1980s I was in an antique/junk kind of shop and saw an old beat up picture frame with a faded poem written in it. Gone From My Sight was the poem’s name. I smiled when I read the poem, thought “how beautiful,” and bought the framed poem. Fast forward to 1985. As a hospice […]
I did a podcast with Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly called Aging, Angst & Alleluia’s. Among other things, she is a Dementia Doula. I had not heard of that term before and now that I have, I’m hooked. Doula is an ancient Greek word meaning a woman who serves. That word has evolved into today’s world slightly […]
“Dear Barbara, My mother passed two hours after being given a second shot of morphine and sedative. It was my fault. I panicked thirty minutes after the first dose. I thought my mom’s breathing should have been slowing down after the first shot so I called the nurse and asked if Mom could have a little more. […]
“Dying is not a medical event” and “The medical model views death as a failure, something to be fixed, to address” are two quotes you will hear from me repeatedly. The second quote is actually part of the foundation of healthcare so when working with end of life caretakers (nurses, social workers, home health aides, […]
Dear Barbara, I am 90 years old and have been healthy for most of those years. I take a thyroid pill and have a bit of arthritis. I am active, do yoga, and lead an independent life. Being old and healthy, my question is how am I going to die? Do you think I’ll just […]
I was visiting with a friend today about aging and looking at life. She used the words “building blocks” to describe the various and numerous life events we all have from birth to the present. These key events have determined who we have become, the life experiences that, put together, have created who we are. […]
I was thinking about the mission of those of us working in end of life. Whether we are nurses, social workers, hospice and palliative care physicians, certified nurses aides, chaplains or volunteers our core goals are the same: education, support, and guidance. With so much focus on meeting medicare requirements sometimes these goals get sidelined. […]
If I stop treatment does it mean I stop trying? If I stop trying does it mean I’ll start dying? I don’t want to die. When faced with the above considerations, what decision do we make? How do we face the realization “I am going to die”? Most of us go through life with the notion […]
Dear Barbara, can you recommend a resource to educate me on how to become a private EOL practitioner? About EOL training? I’m taking that to mean end of life doula training. There are many groups offering training. I would suggest doing a Google search and start contacting different programs to find the “fit” for you. […]
I’m excited to announce my newest resource, By Your Side, A Guide for Caring for the Dying at Home. It is written for the family caregiver, who is caring for their loved one approaching end of life from old age or disease. The person who may be caring for their mother or father who is […]
