Grief is a reaction to loss, and like a fingerprint, it is different for everyone. Many factors influence how you experience and express grief, including your relationship to the person who died, the circumstances of the death, and your culture and spirituality. Grief is not always about the death of someone you love. You may…
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….
Ask an Expert Question My father died last summer. He seemed fine but when the doctor said he had cancer in his pancreas he died in three weeks. I couldn’t believe it. No one at school understands because their parents are all alive, so now I hate being there. If I had a brother or sister…
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,…
The death of a child is a deeply troubling loss that challenges parents and families on many levels. A child’s death is a family loss and can upset the entire family dynamic, potentially making it difficult to get support from those around you as each person copes differently with their deeply personal sense of loss….
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”…
Parents whose children precede them in death may feel a lack of support, in part because it is focused on other survivors, such as the child’s spouse or children, and in part because there simply is little recognition of the powerful and continuing bond that exists between parent and child, even after the child is…
Caregivers as well as patients experience multiple losses throughout the disease processes of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Sometimes, these losses can continue for years, finally resulting in loss of the physical person. This piece addresses such loss. “I don’t understand it,” Marla said, “I lost him years ago to Alzheimer’s disease. There even came a…
A few years ago, a student complained to me that her mother was prescribed medication to help cope with the death of her husband. She was outraged, stating that her mother should not and could not hide from her grief by taking medication. Expecting that I would readily agree with her, she asked my opinion,…
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…
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…
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…
In many cultures, hospice care is not fully understood due to language or cultural barriers. Every patient and family seeking hospice care should be able to learn about the services provided and discuss their options in a language they can understand. In fact, it is a federal requirement that healthcare providers make linguistically competent interpreters…
Whether you’re a patient, family member, or a friend trying to determine whether hospice is the right choice, HFA is here. We provide guidance before, during, and after the important decisions are made.
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