[email protected]

This educational program explores medical, legal, ethical issues, and communication barriers that surround ANH.

“How do I tell my child?” This question frequently comes up whenever children face a death—whether it is the death of a parent, grandparent, other relative, or friend. Recent research has a reassuring message that reaffirms that children can be resilient, even in the face of loss. However, there are specific things that parents can…

Funerals can be highly therapeutic – not only to adults but also to children. It is critical that funeral directors, as well as parents, clergy, educators, counselors and social service professionals, understand the importance and therapeutic value of such rituals and assist children in selecting the ways in which they can comfortably attend and even…

For those who are grieving, special days such as holidays and anniversaries associated with the deceased can be especially hard. Acknowledging the challenge of facing these days does not make a potentially difficult time any easier, but preparing for them by tapping into helpful coping strategies may provide some much-needed comfort. Follow these “three Cs”…

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the well-known sex therapist and talk-show host known as simply Dr. Ruth, has embarked on a new crusade—combatting loneliness. It is a worthy challenge. The U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called loneliness an epidemic and a public health crisis, raising awareness about the extensive risks that loneliness entails—comparing it to smoking…

We often use the word depression very lightly, as a synonym for sadness. We can be “depressed” that the day is cloudy or when we had a bad day at work. Yet depression is more than simply sadness; it is a psychiatric diagnosis that requires assessment and treatment. That distinction is a critical one when…

After the loss of a loved one, it can be difficult to see how to ever go on. The grief journey may seem like a mountain that is too difficult to climb. Here are some steps you can take that may help ease that journey: Allow your grief No step is more important than this….

Death is shocking. Although we may know that a loved one is seriously ill or close to dying, the finality of death can feel unreal. Death is a harsh reality to grasp. It can feel like a disturbing dream or a nightmare. We wish we could wake up and be free of this unwanted reality,…

Helen and her sister, Ellen, had both been widowed recently. In their grief, they turned to a community bereavement counselor at their local hospice program. Among other things, they reported they were perplexed by people who said things that weren’t at all helpful to them. For example, after her husband died, Helen was told by…

If you are looking for a hospice that has received training in issues related to caring for the LGBT community click here to use this helpful tool developed by the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging. The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging as developed “Ten Tips on Finding LGBT-Affirming Services” as a helpful tool in accessing affirming…

  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 60.6 million people who spoke a language other than English at home in 2011, almost two-thirds (37.6 million) spoke Spanish. But depending on the country of origin, the word “hospice” or “hospicio” may have different meanings for Spanish speakers, and that meaning may be very different…