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For many of us, Mother’s Day is a time filled with flowers, phone calls and quiet moments of gratitude—an opportunity to reflect on the women who have shaped our lives through their love, sacrifice and care. It is also a time to remember mothers who are no longer with us, honoring the legacies they leave…
Family members and caregivers often feel uncomfortable talking about death and dying. But, these may be some of the most important conversations we have. If we avoid talking about death, how will we know what our loved ones want? It’s OK to talk about end-of-life wishes and hospice. Talking about hospice care does not mean…
When Rick Sanders first learned his kidneys were failing, the recommended treatment was dialysis. Having watched his brother endure the process, Rick wasn’t sure he wanted to follow that path. “The last thing I wanted to do is spend the rest of my life wandering around hospitals,” he said. Instead, with the encouragement of his…
Hospice care is a specialized set of services designed specifically for individuals with late-stage illnesses and their loved ones, encompassing medical, emotional, spiritual and grief support. Despite its many advantages, for both patients and their families, hospice is often misunderstood. Sometimes, hospice care is never offered, and other times, an individual or family is reluctant…
Navigating end-of-life transitions is one of the most challenging journeys we will all face some day. You may have heard of terminally ill people experiencing an unpredictable, mysterious flash of life and vitality before their passing. You might have witnessed this surge of life yourself while attending to a loved one. This surge of energy…
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…
The view from Donovan (Don) Johnson’s window at Pelican Valley Health Center overlooks a fishing pier and pond in the heart of downtown Pelican Rapids, Minn. Lily pads bob and pencil reeds ring the outer fringes of the pond, a scenic oasis of nature created by an iconic dam in the middle of the town of 2,500.…
When someone is dying, it can be an emotional and trying time for everyone involved. Many people shy away from the person who is dying because they don’t know how to deal with the emotions involved or they are afraid of what’s to come. The most important thing to remember is this is about the…
Special thanks to Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, Marlton, NJ, for allowing HIA Hospice, formerly Hospice of the Red River Valley, to share the following article. When someone dear is terminally ill, you want to give them love and support. But you may also wish to give them something to show you care and enhance their comfort.…
If your loved one resides in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, you are entrusting others to provide the best care possible for your loved one. Staff members in these facilities are experts in long-term care, and HIA Hospice staff members are experts in pain and symptom management for end-of-life care. We often hear…