A closer look at three phases may bring an answer.
In defining death we need to look closer and begin at the beginning.
Read More
Archives for Uncategorized
Stages of Loss
This “loss” can be the loss of a wallet, a relationship, or life itself.
“Pseudo” denial…This denial is very important and therapeutic.
Read More
Alzheimer’s Disease and the Right Brain
As director and nurse practitioner of an Alzheimer’s Adult Day Care in Northern California during the early 1980’s, I made contact with one of the most interesting client. Lee was a 70-year-old man with advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
Read More
Life and Death
Ken B. and his dilemma regarding quality of life. This “right-to-die” case brought many questions for our health care professionals. It became very real to me personally because I cared for Ken the last night of his life. I was a staff nurse at Nathan Adelson Hospice and also worked per diem as a private duty nurse on the side. Ken and I became pretty good friends in the short time we knew each other. At first he wasn’t sure about me. He had wanted only the “young nurses.” It made him nervous when he found out that I had
Read More
advocacy
What does death and dying mean to you personally? Has a person close to you died? Do you want to share your own experiences about quality of life or fears about dying? This website offers an incentive for health care professionals, individuals, and organizations to come together and open the channels of communication – the rights of the dying and the rights of the living – to advocate for individual rights.
Read More
Advanced Care Planning
Why is advanced care planning important. I want to be in charge ! I don’t want to be a burden on my family It helps me to realize there will be an end of this life It will take away a lot of the fear of the future and the “what ifs”… My family won’t have to make difficult decisions I don’t want people to suffer while their death is prolonged. These are just some of my thoughts. How about you?
Read More
Quality of Life
Palliative Care is about Quality of Life which can take many forms. There is a Case Study in this website about a gentleman with Alzheimer’s Disease. His attendance at a Senior Day Program is a good example. He became able to communicate positive emotions and creative skills even though his disease process was very “terminal.” How…Maybe just through Unconditional Love ? (Left brain=intellectual and Right brain = intuitive?)
Read More
Suicide…choice or crime.
Quality of Life can also go through change in the mind of a person. I once cared for a young Canadian woman who had attempted suicide after her fiance’ cheated on her. She had come to the United States because of a law. Once upon a time (I think around the 1970’s) if someone found a person who had attempted suicide in Canada and they took them to a hospital, they would then become financially responsible. This young woman sadly said, “If I didn’t die and someone found me, I didn’t want them to be responsible. So, I came here.”
Read More
Safe Passage
What is meant by “Death As a Safe Passage?” It can be viewed in 3 Phases. Phase One – The Love Movement (“Using Death as an Adviser” – a quote from a Carlos Castaneda book.) Phase Two – Prolonged Suffering Versus Supportive Caring (“Whose Life Is It, Anyway?”) Phase Three – Relax, Breathe, and Let Go (“Deathing” or “The Art of Dying”) Please follow a more detailed description under Phases of Death.
Read More
National Healthcare Decision Week – April 11- April 17
Advanced Care Planning is the cornerstone of Vital Comm Lines, Inc. There is now an entire week devoted to encouraging people plan for “tomorrow” and “Take Charge of Your Care”…our company tagline) We are a non-profit organization with the following mission: To support the right of each individual to have their decisions regarding quality of life and end of life honored by health professionals and significant others. Below is an excerpt from Nathan Kottkamp, the founder of National Healthcare Decision Day (on April 16th) I serve on several hospital ethics committees as part of my health law practice, and I
Read More