items dealing with health care, POLST and other directives
end-of-life care conversations When you consider that death is the one commonality that all humans share, it’s perhaps surprising that this subject has been taboo for so long. But there are definite signs that the prevailing prohibitions about the d-word are slowly falling away, especially as the largest-ever cohort of people over 65 contemplate what … Read more
My mother was a neat and organized woman. Once a year she took the time to sort through “important papers”, keeping those that were still relevant and tossing those that were outdated. She would also write out an inventory of her valued possessions and their current location. These inventive hiding spots included a coffee pot, … Read more
As the year begins to wind down, it’s common to spend some time reflecting upon key events of the last twelve months. We think about the good and the bad and all the stuff in between and we look forward, with some combination of anticipation and trepidation, to starting again with a whole new set … Read more
Pushing up daisies. Taking the dirt nap. Meeting one’s maker. Kicking the bucket. Giving up the ghost. We have lots of creative ways of avoiding the real word, but at some point, all of us will do it. I’m talking about death. When it happens to an older person, it’s generally more expected and accepted, … Read more
Sometimes the ideas that resonate most for you on a particular subject come from unexpected sources. Consider this quote from renowned pop artist Andy Warhol: “Dying is the most embarrassing thing that can ever happen to you, because someone’s got to take care of all your details.” I’m not sure exactly which details Andy was … Read more