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We have learned a great deal about keeping death at bay through medical technology. We are less well informed, however, about how to face death and how to understand or articulate the emotional and spiritual needs of the dying. This book brings together medical experts and authorities in the humanities to reflect on medical, cultural and religious responses to death. The book should help both medical personnel and patients to view death less as an adversary and more as a defining part of life. I...

Here is an excellent new book packed with state-of-the-art information on thanatology. It presents valuable insights on the history, current issues, and future directions for the modern death movement. This comprehensive volume is unique in that it offers multiple perspectives on the issues and problems facing the thanatology movement in the United States from well-known experts in a variety of fields, including nursing, psychology, death education, medicine, ethics, and suicide prevention. By c...

Though there has been much written about dying and bereavement in recent years, the particular stress of terminal illness in childhood - as it affects both the families and the professionals - is only beginning to be better understood. In this book Dorothy Judd, a child psychotherapist who has worked with ill, disabled and dying children and adolescents for many years, places her clinical experience in the context of a full understanding of death, the moral and ethical issues raised by some of t...

The first book to validate the meaningful dreams and visions that bring comfort as death nears. Christopher Kerr is a hospice doctor. All of his patients die. Yet he has cared for thousands of patients who, in the face of death, speak of love and grace. Beyond the physical realities of dying are unseen processes that are remarkably life-affirming. These include dreams that are unlike any regular dream. Described as "more real than real," these end-of-life experiences resurrect past relationshi...

At some point in everyone's life, everyone will be placed in the position of dealing with the death of a loved one. Arranging all the necessary details at such a difficult time can prove overwhelming. However, help is now at hand in this guide that covers all the essential aspects: Ways to avoid probate and other estate problems while you're still alive through gifts and trusts Pre-funeral formalities, such as when the loved one dies in another state or country Selecting a funeral parlor and wo...

As death approaches, both patient and family must cope with grief, pain and seemingly unanswerable questions. It's a time of challenge, of concerns. But, as hospice nurse Karen Whitley Bell reminds us, it also offers an opportunity to explore and rediscover the fuller, richer meaning of life. Drawing on her years of experience, Bell has created a comprehensive, insightful guide to every aspect of hospice care and the final stages of life. She discusses the physical, emotional and spiritual journ...

Making sensible decisions during a time of grief is never easy. Losing a husband, wife, father, mother, child or another near and dear person forces you to make a multitude of decisions, some large and life-changing, some small but emotionally charged. And if substantial amounts of money or conflicting wishes of friends and relatives are involved, making arrangements can become overwhelming. More Than Sympathy is designed to help you through these difficult circumstances. It covers: - Preliminar...

We have learned a great deal in recent years about keeping death at bay through medical technology. We are less well informed, however, about how to face death and how to understand or articulate the emotional and spiritual needs of the dying. This profound and eloquent book brings together medical experts and distinguished authorities in the humanities to reflect on medical, cultural, and religious responses to death. The book helps both medical personnel and patients to view death less as an a...

This book focuses on practice and policy issues of importance to social workers planning and providing services to dying patients and their families during the next decade.

Home Health Care is an expanding industry with an increasing number of national franchise chains and elder-care businesses specializing in companion care, homemaking, and errand running services. This book offers information, tips, and techniques for delivering quality services and positive experiences for both provider and client, with primary focus on the elderly. It provides information and instruction for non-medical support service providers through text, charts, and tables. It includes cas...

A look into the end of life, and how to care for and attend to loved ones in their final years. When Janet Lembke's mother was a sprightly 78 years old, she had made her daughter promise to help her die when the time came. Pills with a stiff Bloody Mary and a hug. But when that time came many years later, it was not so simple. Her mother had had a series of strokes that had rendered her incapable of rational thought, and Lembke couldn't, in fact, help her mother die. Watching her mother suspende...

Help your patients make the smart choices about complementary therapies! A diagnosis of cancer can have devastating effects – not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well – leading patients to look for “cures” or relief from the side effects and symptoms that ravage their minds and bodies. Often, your patients will turn to complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), looking for a “safe” or “natural” solution to their ailments. While these treatments may promise relief from pai...

With The Measure of Our Days, Dr. Jerome Groopman established himself as an eloquent new voice in the literature of medicine. In these eight moving portraits, he offers us a compelling look at what is to be learned when life itself can no longer be taken for granted.These stories are diverse--from Kirk, an aggressive venture capitalist determined to play the odds with controversial chemotherapy treatments; to Elizabeth, an imperious dowager humbled by a rare blood disease; to Elliott, who triump...

Whether you or someone close to you has received a terminal diagnosis -- this period of time can be a final gift.Guidance for the patient You've been terminally diagnosed, and you need advice to help you make the best of the situation and the time you have left. Here's guidance, including: -- Emotional adjustment-- Medical care-- Hospital vs. home care-- Legal and financial arrangements-- Saying goodbye Support for the caregiver As a caregiver to someone who is terminally ill, you can be a gu...