The loss of a loved one is felt throughout the year, but grief can hit the hardest during major holidays. In a time when family and friends usually share their happiest memories, an absence can feel overwhelming. You may not even want to participate in the holiday or event, and that’s ok....
We spend a third of our lives at work, so it goes without saying that our jobs have an enormous impact on our physiological and psychological well-being. For those of us who devote our careers to providing comfort to individuals at the end of their lives, grief is inevitable. It is understood that...
Being together again with your entire family; brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and of course, your parents. What a joyous time of year! It is such a blessing to be able to get together with loved ones. It is a time to celebrate, reminisce, and enjoy spending quality time together. It can...
As the COVID-19 outbreak rages on, many families are forced into making the difficult decision of choosing between hospice care and going on a ventilator. Relatives often weigh the potential life-saving benefits of providing a ventilator and the comfort provided by hospice care where relatives can...
By Stefanie Rubin As COVID-19 dismantles our nation, hospice centers across the country are not allowing family members in its doors. This restriction poses a problem for the patients of palliative care facilities. While younger generations are able to easily leverage Zoom and FaceTime to connect...
By Stefanie Rubin When I was a young girl, mother told me that my papa had gone to a special place called heaven. At the time, I did not understand what she had meant. Looking back now, I realize that that was my mother’s way of introducing me to the notion of death, a topic whispered about in...
Waiting too long to use hospice care can make suffering at end-of-life worse. According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, putting off hospice care until the last days of life decreases the chances for patients and families to receive a meaningful...