Living at the End of Life: A Hospice Nurse Addresses the Most Common Questions

Description

Draws on the experiences of a hospice nurse and advocate for terminal patient rights to cover every aspect of hospice care and the final stages of life, addressing a range of related topics from physical experiences to the emotional and spiritual journey of a dying person. Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Foreword Introduction Part I: What Will Happen? The Spiritual Journey What Will It Be Like? An Overview of the End-of-Life Journey Will I Be Alone? Will Others Be with You in Your Final Days or Hours? Will I Choose My Time? Does the Mind or Spirit Influence When We Pass? Will I Be Aware? The Possibility of Consciousness, Even If We’re Not Awake or Responsive I Had This Dream . . . A Description of Common Dream Themes Part II: What Will Happen? The Physical Journey What Should I Do Now? Expressing Your Wishes How to Complete Advance Directive and Medical Power of Attorney Forms Will I Be in Pain? How Pain Medication Works When to Use It What to Tell Your Doctor How to Minimize Side Effects Understanding Common Pain Medication Myths I Don’t Want to Be a Burden . . . Ways to View and Cope with Dependence I Wish I Had More Energy . . . Tools to Maximize Energy and Mobility Do I Want to Help Plan My Remembrance Service? Ways to Explore This Topic with Loved Ones Part III: Caregiving as a Family: How Do We Manage? I’ve Never Done This Before . . . An Overview of Caregiving What Does Hospice Do? An Explanation of Services Why Early Access to Hospice Can Help You and Your Loved Ones What If We Don’t Have Hospice Care? Tips for Accessing Resources Making the Most of Your Visit with Your Doctor Guidance for Managing Care in a Rural Community I Can’t Do This Alone . . . Suggestions to Gather, Organize, and Manage Support from Friends, Neighbors, and Loved Ones How Can I Keep Him Safe? Understanding and Reducing Risks for Both the Individual and Caregiver How Do I Bring the Bathroom to Him? Options for Toileting and Bathing I Don’t Know What to Say . . . Insights to Achieve a Meaningful Visit He Doesn’t Want to Eat . . . Understanding and Adapting to a Changing Appetite Ideas for Adapting Meal Schedules for People with Memory Impairment Suggestions for Easy-to-Digest Foods and Beverages For Loved Ones Who Live Far Away: What Can I Do? Staying Informed and Supportive Deciding When to Visit I’m Exhausted! Exploring Care Settings Outside the Home Choosing a Care Facility, If Needed, and Paying for Care Part IV: Closure: Will I Die a “Good” Death? I’m Afraid to Lose Control . . . Examining the Fear of Loss of Control and Discovering Ways to Achieve Peace I’m Not Ready . . . Making the Most of the Time You Have Is It Too Late to Make Amends? Achieving Reconciliation, Forgiveness, and Healing I’m Ready—Why Am I Not Going? Understanding and Achieving Acceptance and Peace Why Me? Why Am I Being Punished? Reconciling Mortality with Your Religious Beliefs We Always Thought We’d Have More Time . . . Realizing Dreams and Appreciating the Choices You Have Made Part V: For Loved Ones and Caregivers: Sharing the Final Days How Do We Keep Her Comfortable? Giving Medication When Your Loved One Can No Longer Swallow Recognizing If Your Loved One Is in Pain Preventing Discomfort How Do I Let Go? Saying Good-bye: Helping Your Loved One Achieve Peace How Will We Know When the End Is Near? Changes You May See Understanding What These Changes Mean I Want to Be with Her When She Passes . . . Meeting Your Loved One’s Needs—and Yours—in the Final Days Ideas to Create a Peaceful Environment I Want My Last Memory to Be a Good Memory . . . What to Do at the Time of Death Ideas for Honoring and Caring for Your Loved One at the Time of Death Part VI: How Will I Go On? Coping with Loss I Feel So Alone . . . An Introduction to Grief and Bereavement How Are You? How Love and Loss Shape Who We Are Part VII: Living Is There Life after Death? Does It Influence How I Live Now? Can I Choose How I Live? Appendices Appendix A: Additional Resources Appendix B: Important Documents to Gather Appendix C: Common Pain Medications Appendix D: Supportive Therapies Acknowledgments Index About the Author