Culture, Traditions and Being Remembered
There are as many end of life rituals as their are cultures. Each intended to ease through the dying process and to help those left behind to move on, while celebrating a life lived, and honouring memories.
For some memories are triggered by a treasured momento: a piece of jewellery, a hand-knitted blanket. For many, it’s photographs, special occasion cards, scrapbooks. For some, it’s a project worked on together for a shared experience to remember: creating a puzzle together or – using available technology – iphone video conversation. Virtual experiences offer more options: a Facebook memorial page, a shared photo library.
When does ‘no’ mean ‘no’ in health decisions
Medical decisions: why does saying ‘no’ mean you need a psychiatric consult? That’s what seems to happen if someone – anyone – decides they don’t want any more medical interventions. Take this story of a 70-year old woman – still vigorous and enjoying life: “After her...
Things I’ve learned from dying
Living, knowing you are going to die Drawn, as I am, to learning ever more about how we die, and how ‘one’ dies, this David Dow title, "Things I've learned from Dying " had me at ‘hello’ Dow – who is very much alive - is a death row lawyer in Texas . He writes...
Communicating Prognosis at the End of Life
How to tell patients they're likely to die Health care professionals often have difficulty facilitating hope and coping strategies when managing end-of-life issues. Advising a limited life expectancy has an obvious impact on the patients, caregivers and their...
Dementia: Feeding tubes may add to risk of bed sores
PEG or Percutaneous endoscopic gastric feeding tubes, long assumed to help bed-bound dementia patients stave off or overcome bed sores/pressure ulcers, may instead make the wounds more likely to develop or not improve, according to a study. "We see a substantial risk...
