http://dying.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2011-06-03T15:14:34Z Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:14:34 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://dying.about.com/b/2011/06/21/saying-goodbye.htm <p>I'm saying goodbye as your Guide to Palliative Care.&#160; It has been an incredible opportunity to write about my passion - compassionate and quality care at the end of life.&#160; I'll be focusing more of my time on direct patient care as a hospice and palliative care nurse while working towards a master's degree in nursing.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/06/21/saying-goodbye.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/06/21/saying-goodbye.htm Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:02:00 +0000 2011-06-21T20:02:00Z http://dying.about.com/b/2011/06/03/jack-kevorkian-aka-dr-death-dies-at-age-83.htm <p>J<a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/dying/1/0/5/1/-/-/108080217.jpg"><img class="alignleft" title="Dr. Jack Kavorkian" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/dying/1/0/5/1/-/-/108080217.jpg" alt="Dr. Jack Kavorkian" width="20" height="10" /></a>ack Kevorkian, the physician also known as "Dr. Death" for his murder conviction in 1999, met his own death early Friday morning.&#160; Kavorkian was convicted of murder after broadcasting a video of himself injecting an ALS patient with a lethal dose of medication with the patient's consent.&#160; Kavorkian himself admitted to assisting 130 people end their lives.&#160; He was applauded by right to die groups and condemned by much of the public and the law.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/06/03/jack-kevorkian-aka-dr-death-dies-at-age-83.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/06/03/jack-kevorkian-aka-dr-death-dies-at-age-83.htm Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:14:34 +0000 2011-06-03T15:14:34Z http://dying.about.com/b/2011/05/17/prepare-for-death.htm <p>Nobody wants to face death but no one can escape it.&#160; We can, however, hope that our own death will be comfortable, peaceful, and personal.&#160; Planning ahead and preparing for death is the best way to make sure your death is all of those things.&#160; Follow these tips to prepare for your own death.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/05/17/prepare-for-death.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/05/17/prepare-for-death.htm Tue, 17 May 2011 13:15:16 +0000 2011-05-17T13:15:16Z http://dying.about.com/b/2011/05/11/mother-with-breast-cancer-fights-to-keep-her-kids.htm <p>I was having my cup of coffee and watching the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.today.com/">Today Show</a> this morning when a story came on that nearly made me spit coffee into my oatmeal.&#160; A young mother in Durham, N.C. is fighting to keep her kids after a judge cited her "uncertain future" as a reason for awarding her ex-husband full custody.&#160; This young mom, you see, is undergoing palliative treatment for stage IV breast cancer.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/05/11/mother-with-breast-cancer-fights-to-keep-her-kids.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/05/11/mother-with-breast-cancer-fights-to-keep-her-kids.htm Wed, 11 May 2011 13:53:23 +0000 2011-05-11T13:53:23Z http://dying.about.com/b/2011/05/06/when-to-call-hospice-after-hours.htm <p>Hospice patients and their caregivers often wonder when it is appropriate to call hospice after hours.&#160; Some are super diligent and call hospice for non-urgent matters at all hours of the night.&#160; Others are too hesitant to call and suffer in pain for hours before calling for help.&#160; Your hospice team wants to be available to assist you in times of crisis but don't necessarily want to be called at 2:00am for non-urgent matters (example:&#160; "My mom is running low on adult diapers.")</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/05/06/when-to-call-hospice-after-hours.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/05/06/when-to-call-hospice-after-hours.htm Fri, 06 May 2011 12:36:57 +0000 2011-05-06T12:36:57Z http://dying.about.com/b/2011/04/26/what-is-a-hospice-emergency.htm <p>I worked on-call triage from Sunday night into Monday morning - a job I don't do often because I really like a good night's sleep.&#160; I was filling in for a nurse who had her baby a couple weeks early, but I believe her with a newborn and myself with the telephone got the same amount of sleep: almost none.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/04/26/what-is-a-hospice-emergency.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/04/26/what-is-a-hospice-emergency.htm Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:08:40 +0000 2011-04-26T17:08:40Z http://dying.about.com/b/2011/04/12/ghanian-funerals-are-a-party.htm <p>I've made it perfectly clear to my loved ones that I want a celebration when I die, not a stuffy, sad funeral.&#160; I imagine something very close to my wedding - festive, great food, music, drinks, and a good time had by all.&#160; My husband is all for it; my parents cringe and extol the importance of somber grief.&#160; Oh, if my parents only knew how the Ghanians do it!</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/04/12/ghanian-funerals-are-a-party.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/04/12/ghanian-funerals-are-a-party.htm Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:33:33 +0000 2011-04-12T12:33:33Z http://dying.about.com/b/2011/03/31/what-is-it-like-to-die-from-dementia.htm <p>All forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, are life-limiting illnesses that will eventually lead to death.&#160; While individuals are living longer with dementia, the end does come eventually.&#160; A lot of people wonder what death from dementia looks like and what they can expect as their loved one or friend progresses through the illness.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/03/31/what-is-it-like-to-die-from-dementia.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/03/31/what-is-it-like-to-die-from-dementia.htm Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:38:55 +0000 2011-03-31T12:38:55Z http://dying.about.com/b/2011/03/29/talking-to-kids-about-death.htm <p>There's a few conversations most of us dread having with our kids.&#160; Death is one of them, and it's the only one we are faced with as early as toddlerhood - maybe the first time they squash an ant under foot or watch the flowers die in autumn.&#160; It's important, then, that we feel comfortable having an honest and compassionate conversation with our kids about the seasons of life.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/03/29/talking-to-kids-about-death.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/03/29/talking-to-kids-about-death.htm Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:38:27 +0000 2011-03-29T15:38:27Z http://dying.about.com/b/2011/03/28/gearing-up-for-national-healthcare-decision-day.htm <p>April 16 marks National Healthcare Decision Day.&#160; Events are scheduled around the nation and thousands of people will gather to learn about and maybe even sign <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/od/planningahead/a/adv_directive.htm">advance directives</a>.</p> <p>My husband and I made our own advance directives several years ago and we often discuss our treatment preferences for various situations.&#160; I was in my late twenties when I made my advance directives, yet I still can't convince my parents that it's a good idea for them.&#160; I am encouraging them to attend a NHDD event near them this year, then maybe someone else can convince them of the importance of planning ahead!</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://dying.about.com/b/2011/03/28/gearing-up-for-national-healthcare-decision-day.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://dying.about.com/b/2011/03/28/gearing-up-for-national-healthcare-decision-day.htm Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:09:34 +0000 2011-03-28T11:09:34Z