Losing someone you love can feel like the end of the world. You may feel as if your heart is actually breaking. Generally, “heartbreak” refers to an emotional state that people attribute to the physical symptoms of being broken-hearted. But…
END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT—MEDICAL AID IN DYING – PATHWAYS POLICY AND PROCEDURES: {All California Hospices are required by the revised law, CA-SB380 Medical Aid-in-Dying, to post prominently their policy regarding Aid-In-Dying} Pathways participates fully in discussions of medical aid…
People who are dying eat less food. It’s just what happens. That’s not to say it’s not distressing to family members who are caring for their loved ones. However, nutrition at the end of life is just as important as…
With World Tuberculosis Day coming up on March 24, it’s fitting to explore what a diagnosis of tuberculosis means for elderly hospice patients in Alameda County and elsewhere. Still an epidemic in much of the world today, tuberculosis causes the…
Regret: it’s one of the biggest and most common emotions a person can experience after losing someone. On top of the pain of the actual loss, the feelings of regret come rushing through, making even the strongest of us ask…
With Sleep Awareness Week coming up March 14th through the 20th, it’s a good opportunity to discuss the importance of high-quality sleep for people in hospice in San Francisco and elsewhere. Because so many people in hospice are elderly patients suffering from dementia, quality…
With the approach of end-of-life in Santa Clara and elsewhere, it’s not uncommon for a hospice patient to lose his or her appetite due to the rapid shut down of organs and systems. Once the body starts to shut down,…
Friday, February 4 was World Cancer Day, an international day designed to raise awareness of cancer and promote its prevention, detection, and treatment. Many of our hospice patients in Alameda County and elsewhere are suffering from terminal cancer. Comfort and…
Multiple grief comes in many forms. You may have lost a few people you love within a short period of time, or you may have lost one special person but it came at the same time you were going through…
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Staff Education Week took place earlier in the month of February, designed to increase awareness of the importance of giving comprehensive dementia education to all staff and healthcare professionals working with these patients. Many Alzheimer’s patients are…