Translate This Site
Changes naturally occur in the body as one draws nearer to the end of life. Although each person’s experience is unique, there are common signs that death is near. Terminal restlessness is a type of confusion or agitation that can occur at the end of life. A person may be described as restless if they…
Marilyn (Holmes) Hennager was born in New Westminster, the oldest city in western Canada located just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. She was the third of four children who shared a humble upbringing that brought the family to Manitoba and eventually Saskatchewan, where they grew up. Marilyn was always proud of her Canadian heritage. She…
The Baier farmhouse window frames a picturesque spring postcard of North Dakota’s famed Prairie Pothole region. Gently rolling hills remain covered with the stubble of last year’s corn crop. Thousands of geese swarm half thawed sloughs—the refueling stop on their annual journey north. Hilmer and Sharon Baier have shared this view for most of their…
by Heather Larson, LSW, CT When it comes to grief, we often think of the loving relationship we had with the person who died, and the deep sadness and longing we feel when they are gone. But what happens when the relationship was not so good? What happens when we don’t feel sad or long…
Gladys Carlson always took great care and pride in her hands. She loved well-manicured hands—nails polished with the perfect shade of pink. Her hands were her constant confidants and the means to accomplish her favorite pastimes that included cooking, baking, playing bingo and dancing. And most importantly, they were her source of comfort and connection.…
by Roxanne Smedsrud, RN, CHPN One of the hardest things for a family to accept and understand is when a loved one quits eating and drinking near end of life. Families often don’t know exactly what is happening to the person who is dying. They question, “Is my loved one dehydrated? Are they starving?” These…
Goodbyes are hard. We simply don’t want to say goodbye to the people we love. And saying goodbye when a friend, family member or loved one approaches end-of-life can feel like an impossible task. There are ways to prepare for saying goodbye, and if you practice now in your own way, it can help soften…
by Jordan Weeda Here we are. No more poking and prodding. No therapeutic goals to achieve. No pandemic protocols. No hurried doctors and nurses. This is a world of quiet voices, laughing great grandchildren in the other room, smells of food wafting from the kitchen, hand holding, hair brushing, foot rubbing, resting—just being. Grateful to…
by Kriston Wenzel, LBSW, CT We struggle to know what to do when a friend loses a loved one through death. We want to say the right thing and hope in so doing, we’ll be able to “take the pain away.” However, that’s not how grief works. There are no “right words,” and the pain cannot “go…
People who are in the final stage of their life and their loved ones face many challenges, and anxiety is often one of those challenges present during this phase of life. It’s natural for people to feel anxious because of the uncertainty or fear of dying. Anxiety is a natural response to factors that create…