Whenever we see a flag-draped gurney exit the T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center, we stop whatever we are doing. It is an extremely moving experience to line the halls in silence as the gurney passes. A small gesture of respect, in exchange...
The message read, “Patient pronounced at 0400, family arrived and are grieving well.” I pondered this for days. What does “grieving well” mean? During the shattering process of grief, it may not seem that anything is “well.” And yet . . . Perhaps “grieving well”...
We had the opportunity recently to attend a fascinating presentation by Dr. Yosef Khan from the Islamic Center of Irving, on the topic of providing end-of-life care for Muslim patients. Dr. Khan explained that Islam provides guidance for followers on every aspect of life, including...
Last Wednesday afternoon, I received a phone call with the shocking news that a dear friend and colleague had died unexpectedly. He was out of town with his beloved wife when he collapsed on the stairs at a museum, dying instantly of a massive heart...
I arrive at the home at the scheduled time to provide massage for a cancer patient and his caregiver. Patient is resting so I begin by massaging the caregiver, his wife. We do the intake, start the music, put bergamot essential oil in her diffuser,...
It can be hard to know what to say, what to do, what to bring to the bedside of someone who is seriously ill. Here are some of the items that we’ve noticed our patients seem to appreciate and use. A nice night light for...
I recently entered a patient’s room just as he was drawing his last breath. This lovely man had been my patient for only two weeks. But it was clear that he was an extraordinary person, and I adored his sweet family as well. The nurse...
At the risk of embarrassing Gayle MacDonald, this post is all about her. And others like Gayle, whom we credit with making us the professionals we are today. Cindy says: Unbeknownst to her, Gayle became my mentor in 1999 when I stumbled upon the first...
Patients on palliative or hospice care all have a primary diagnosis. In hospice care, this is also known as the terminal diagnosis. The terminal diagnosis helps us to adjust our massage session in a manner such that the session is safe for the patient. For...
The Activity I recently had the opportunity to participate in a Virtual Dementia Tour. Here’s how it worked: I signed a waiver and walked into a dimly lit room. Upon entering I see several tables as in a conference-type room. Four were positioned for the...
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