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Compassionate Hospice Care at HIA Heather’s House Seeing a need to serve our communities with compassionate care at life’s most sacred moments, HIA Hospice, formerly Hospice of the Red River Valley, opened HIA Heather’s House in September 2025. This vision, more than 20 years in the making, became a place where patients and families could…
When people describe Ace Brandt, they speak of his strength, vision and love for his family. But to those who knew him best, his greatest legacy wasn’t built in business or community impact, it was the compassion and care he carried into every part of his life. That same compassion came full circle in Ace’s…
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…
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 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…
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…