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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…
by Janna Benson Kontz, MDiv Grief and guilt often walk hand in hand. When we grieve the death of someone, our minds go to places we wish they wouldn’t travel. We ask ourselves, “Could I have done more? Why didn’t I do more? Why didn’t I tell them I loved them? Did I love them…
by Kriston Wenzel, LBSW, CT The death of a life partner often leads to loneliness. It’s natural to feel lonely; it’s part of the grieving process. Part of normal human emotion is wanting to feel connected to another person again in a way that is unique to a partner. There is no right or wrong…
by Jennifer Messelt, LMSW, LGSW Adults often question how or even if children should be involved when a loved one is dying. What do you tell children? Should kids attend a funeral following a death? Death and grieving are natural components of the life process, but sometimes our own worries and uncertainties about dying influence…
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…
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…
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 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…