Note: This article is the second part of a three part series sharing the wisdom of Katya De Luisa, a dementia educator and author of “Journey through the Infinite Mind–the Science and Spirituality of Dementia.” Read part 1 and part 3 here. What should you do when your loved one with dementia believes someone who […]
How to Prepare for the Final Step: Words of Wisdom from an Optimistic Death Doula
Ruth McGill talks about death every day. She listens to her clients, all of whom are terminally ill, and helps them to decide where they might like to die – at home, in a hospice, or someplace else. She helps them to have conversations with family or loved ones that would otherwise be much more […]
Has the Pandemic Changed Funerals Forever?
Q. The pandemic has caused me to refocus my energy on planning for my future and for my family when I’m gone. I have seen people I know die of COVID and their families stressed about their funerals during a time of grief. I don’t want that to ever happen to my family, so I […]
Your Last Wishes Can be as Unique as You Are
Katie was born on July 4th. She got married on that day also and gave birth to her son on July 6th (he was due on the 4th). She was in the military and is a proud American. For her, Independence Day and fireworks have special meaning. So, when she indicated her wishes in her […]
Can You Die from a Broken Heart?
Q. My grandmother died many years ago, when I was twelve years old. I’ll never forget seeing her in her hospital bed and muttering the last words I would ever say to her. I will also never forget how my grandfather died shortly after. After all, they had been married for more than 50 years. […]
Explaining Death and Dying to Grandchildren
Dear Bebe, My mother has a terminal illness and won’t be around much longer. I have yet to tell my children, because I don’t know the best way to explain it. Do you have any recommendations on how to tell children that their grandmother is dying? Thanks for your help! Khan Versayshun — Dear Khan, […]
Many Hospice Workers Lack Their Own End-of-Life Directives
Dear Bebe, Hospice workers come into contact with people who are dying every day. I read recently that many of them don’t even have their own advance medical directives. Is this true? Seems like a no-brainer to me! Noah Directivs-Ovtherown — Dear Noah, What you read is correct. Many hospice care workers, who deal with […]
Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2017 (Be Very Afraid!)
Halloween is today, so it’s the ideal day to present you with this year’s scariest articles. From parents being kidnapped by a professional guardian to people getting Alzheimer’s at 40, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles from least to most scary (but you be the judge) for […]
Coping with the Death of a Pet
Dear Angel, My mother’s beloved lap cat just passed away at the age of 17 and my mom is inconsolable. I’ve never lost a pet, so I don’t quite understand how she is feeling. How would you suggest she deal with the passing of a pet that was so dear to her? Thanks for any […]
TED Talks: New Ways to Think About Death
Most people don’t like to think about dying. We’d rather focus our energy on the people and the things we love, happy times, and things that bring us joy. But, as we all know, death is inevitable, and shouldn’t be ignored. Despite what most think,these conversations don’t have to be sad and depressing. They can be positive and thought-provoking. As […]
Overcoming the Fear of Death
Q. My mother always said that there are two topics to avoid in conversation, whenever possible: religion and politics. Unlike some of my Facebook friends and others I have known, I took this advice to heart and don’t have many enemies. Now that she is in her 80’s, and I am in my 60’s, and my daughter is nearly […]
Preparing for Death on Social Media
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I was recently on Facebook and noticed a friend who had passed away a few years ago still has an active account. Isn’t there anything family members and friends can do to memorialize a loved one on social media when he or she passes away? Faye Spook —- Dear Faye, A small company, […]
Now You Can Clone Grandma — April Fool’s Joke . . . or Not?
Q. I am very close with my 100-year-old grandmother, Emily. She is a remarkable, accomplished woman who went to college (which was rare in her time) and became a successful brain surgeon. She is also a very talented artist. I visit her every week and we talk for hours. Despite the fact that she is […]