Palliative Care: Most Popular Articles

Writing a Condolence Letter
A sympathy or condolence letter can be a great source of comfort to someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one. Find tips on writing your own condolence letter.

How to Write a Sympathy Letter
A well-written sympathy or condolence letter can help ease the sorrow for a grieving person coping with the death of a loved one. In a condolence letter the writer can send your sympathy and compassion to the grieving person. The sympathy or condolence letter is also a reminder to the grieving person that they have friends and/or family who will support them during the difficult time.

How to Write & Give a Eulogy
A eulogy is an oral memorial given in memory of or paying tribute to someone who has died. The speech is usually given at a funeral or memorial service. This article provides useful information and resources that will help you to write a eulogy and deliver a memorable memorial speech, a final farewell gift.

Write a Condolence Letter
A condolence letter or sympathy note may be one of the most challenging correspondences to write, but sending a message of compassion can also be a worthwhile experience. The benefit of sending condolence letters is often more clearly understood once you have been in a position of receiving condolence letters.

Examples of Eulogies
There are many different types or styles of eulogies, memorial speeches or memorial tributes. The type chosen will depend on the person being remembered, the nature of the death and the occasion for the eulogy. This article looks at some of the common types or styles with examples from notable speeches or tributes.

Memorial/Life Service
This article helps explain the major topics involved in planning a memorial service of Celebration of Life ceremony from selecting the location and date to finding ways of sharing and preserving memories.

In Memory of You
This poem, In Memory of You, has been shared as a gift with many people grieving a loss since it was written 10 years ago. It is shared here in the hopes that it will provide words of comfort for those who read it.

Definition of Stress
Definition of Stress

The Last Days or Hours
Family, friends and caregivers tending to the needs of a loved one in his or her final stages of life often want to know how they may recognize that the end is near, the final days or hours are approaching or the person is "Actively Dying." Some of the more common symptoms that occur during the last days or hours of life are presented in this article.

The Dying Process
Death is a personal journey that each individual approaches in their own unique way. Nothing is concrete, nothing is set in stone. There are many paths one can take on this journey but all lead to the same destination.

Mercy Killing
Definition of Mercy Killing

About Euthanasia
Euthanasia is considered to be the deliberate action by a physician or other individual with the intent to end another's life for benevolent motives, such as the relief of suffering. This article looks at many of the variations of terminology used surrounding Euthanasia as well as some of the famous and notable people and physicians associated with euthanasia topics. Also included are links to veterinary topics on euthanasia.

Info Needed to Write a Eulogy
The many details needed when writing a eulogy are similar to that used when writing the obituary. It usually includes general information about the person such as age, family work and/or career details, hobbies places the person has lived and special events or accomplishments in the person's life. Also included is a useful chart to help in organizing the details.

Passive Euthanasia
Definition of Passive Euthanasia

Euthanasia
What is euthanasia? Find the definition of euthanasia here.

Bindi's Eulogy for Steve Irwin
On on September 20, 2006 Bindi Iwrin delivered one of the most moving memorials in recent memory--her final tribute to her Dad, Steve Irwin who died suddenly and unexpectedly on September 4, 2006. The text of her memorable and inspiring tribute is included.

Cher's Eulogy for Sonny
Even though they'd been apart for more than 24 years, Cher accepted the invitation and delivered a Eulogy for her former husband, partner and friend Sonny Bono at his funeral service in Palm Springs, California on the 9th of January 1998. Then Congressman Sonny Bono died from injuries sustained in a skiing accident.

What is Palliative Care?
Description of palliative care, including goals, the palliative care team, and settings of care.

Plan a Funeral Service
This article helps explain the major areas involved in planning a more formal funeral service. Includes informaton on selecting the location and date, participants and finding ways of sharing memories.

My Wish for You
This poem "My Wish for You" was written as a tribute for my grandmother following her death in 1998. Despite being a long-standing anticipated death, the death of my remaining grandparent was a difficult one to cope with, we found ourselves saying goodbye after having had to cope with the longest goodbye--losing her to the effects of Alzheimer's disease

John Cleese's Humorous Eulogy
In 1989 John Cleese delivered a memorable memorial speech for his friend and former Monty Python partner Graham Chapman at a memorial service held in the Great Hall at St Bartholomew's Hospital. This humorous eulogy for Chapman has become a classic in which Cleese advantage of "this glorious opportunity to shock you all on his behalf," which he proceeded to do.

Death & Dying Terms
A special collection of more than 200 euphemisms, metaphors used in place of the words dying, death or dead. The collection also includes many of the often amusing slang expressions that people use when talking about death or dying.

5 Stages of Coping with Dying
The Five Stages in Coping with Dying, or stage-based model, was developed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in 1969 to describe the emotional and psychological responses that many people experience when faced with life-threatening illness or life-changing situation.

Toasts to Remember
A Toast is traditionally a drink in honor of a person or an event. Toasts are also a way of remembering those who are departed. this collection of Toasts and Blessings contain toasts, quotes and blessings that can be used for memorials, to remember those who have died and also to honor the living. Many of these toasts could also be incorporated as part of a eulogy speech or a holiday remembrance.

What is Hospice?
Hospice care is similar to palliative care in that the goals are to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. In contrast to palliative care, however, hospice is appropriate only when curative treatments are no longer working and/or no longer desired.

Healing: A Gift of Self
A special poem written for those who walk with loved ones on difficult path--their final journey. I have gifted this poem to friends helping their loved ones live until the end.

Grief and Mourning
What is grief and why do we mourn? Find out what's normal and what's not.

Active Euthanasia
Definition of Active Euthanasia

Kubler Ross Quotes
The quotes and words of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross have inspired me for years. This collection of quotes "On Death" and "On Dying" explain what she discovered from her lifetime of working with people who were dying.

Organize a Eulogy
After collecting all of the information about the person's life, the next task is deciding how to organize the facts, stories, memories and notable details into a eulogy or memorial, memorial speech.

Organ Donation Stats
An extensive article that looks at the topic of Organ Donation. This article encourages people to learn more, be inspired, become a Donor and give the gift of life. Information and resources are included to help readers download and complete a Donor Card to Carry, as well as tips for talking to families about this sometimes difficult topic.

Tears of an Angel
This photograph is of a grieving angel statue "crying" pink rose petal tears. The text "Tears of an Angel" has been superimposed on the photograph. Copyright vhc, the Violet Heart Collection, 2004.

How to Write a Eulogy
Information on funerals and memorials, including cultural and religious considerations. Tips on how to plan services and memorialize loved ones.

Eulogy for Diana
The Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales occurred at Westminster Abbey on Saturday the 6th of September 1997 at 11.00 a.m. Her brother Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, delivered the following Tribute for his sister Diana.

Phases of Grief
John Bowlby and Colin Murray Parkes during the 1960's through 1980's proposed descriptions of the various phases or dimensions that a grieving or bereaved person may experience following a loss. Their four phases of grief, phases of bereavement or phases of mourning are one of the many models used by researchers to try and describe the grief response to a loss.

Elton's Memorial for Diana
On September 6, 1997 Sir Elton John sang a moving, memorable, musical tribute to his dear friend, Diana the Princess of Wales as part of her funeral service. He has only performed this version of Candle in the Wind, 1997 once--at the funeral.

Causes of Death
From the CDC's (Center for Disease Control) National Center for Health Statistics, the latest data on the leading causes of death in the United States. Data is based on the latest statistics available from 2003.

Choosing a Final Resting Place
People have many options with their choices of final resting places. Direct burial and cremation are the most popular and the most traditional choices. Some are choosing more creative options to be scattered or buried at sea, to have part of their remains sent into space or made into works of art or jewelry. This article reviews these final resting places from the traditional to the creative.

Actual Causes of Death
In 2000 well over a third of all deaths in the United States could be attributed to a limited number of largely preventable behaviors and exposures--smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity and alcohol consumption. Interventions to prevent and increase smoking cessation, improve diet and increase physical activity need to be high priorities for health care and public health systems.

Planning a Meaningful Goodbye
Find out how to plan a meaningful memorial service for yourself or your loved one with these simple steps.

Symptoms of Actively Dying
Lichter studied 200 actively dying cancer patients and discovered a list of certain symptoms that required some attention to make the dying person feel more comfortable. This article provides useful list of these common symptoms of actively dying along with ways for caregivers to help in relieving or managing the symptom.

Non-Voluntary Euthanasia
Definition of Non-Voluntary Euthanasia

Inurnment
Definition of Inurnment

The Immortal Memory Toast
The Toast to the Immortal Memory is a longstanding traditional toast both for Scotland's National Poet Robert Burns and Britain's Naval War Hero Lord Admiral Nelson. Toasting the Immortal Memory of someone who has died is actually a very appropriate and inspiring way of remembering that person's life. Information is given on how to propose your own Immortal Memory Toast.

Interacting with the Dying
There are several reasons many people have a difficult time interacting with a dying person. Find out how to communicate more effectively with a dying loved one...

Tribute to JFK Jr.
This Memorial Tribute to John F. Kennedy Junior was delivered by his uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the 23rd of July 1999 in the Church of St. Thomas More in New York City. John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister, Lauren died unexpectedly on Friday, July 16, 1999 in a solo plane crash water off of Martha's Vineyard.

Remembering at Christmas
There are many ways to remember a loved one at Christmas or during the holiday season. This list includes some of the best suggestions and recommendations, in no particular order.

Light a Candle
Lighting a candle is a sacred ritual in many different traditions and religions. For centuries people around the world have burned candles in remembrance of loved ones who have died, as a way of healing the past and bringing hope for the future. This article provides a link to the online candle lighting page has been set up for the Death, Dying and Bereavement site.

Normal Grief
Grief is a normal response to the loss of a loved one. The entire person--mind, body and spirit--reacts when responding to grief. Common reactions can include physical, emotional, behavioral/psychological, social and even spiritual changes. There are a variety of symptoms that are among the normal responses that may occur after experiencing a loss.

Palliative Care - HowTos
An index of HowTos for the Palliative Care guide site.

Morphine
Morphine Sulfate is considered the "gold standard" for treatment of moderate to severe pain in the palliative care and hospice setting. Learn more about it, including usage instructions and side effects.

DNR and No Code
What is a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, and how can you decide whether a DNR is right for you?

Reasons for PAS
Quality of life is the driving force behind seeking physician assisted suicide. Find out why...

Legal Death
Legal Definition of Death

Sudden Death
A sudden death occurs without any forewarning; it is unanticipated. A traumatic death, in addition to being sudden, can also be violent, mutilating or destructive; it can be random and/or preventable or may involve many deaths. These sudden, accidental, unexpected or traumatic death shatters the world as we know it; they leave the survivors feeling shaken, unsure and vulnerable. This article provides various resources and information about coping with sudden or traumatic deaths.

Most Likely Ways of Dying
The leading causes of death are combined with the person's odds of dying from a particular cause to determine which the various ways a person is likely to die. This type of information is helpful in modifying lifestyle behaviors e.g. wearing seatbelts, helmets or life jackets to increase the odds of surviving motor vehicle, motorcycle and water accidents and taking care when crossing the street to minimize pedestrian accidents.

Coping with Challenge
Following a loss, death, tragic event or major life challenge, it may be difficult to remember to take care for oneself. Focusing on the basis survival needs for the body--remembering to eat, sleep and exercise--is especially needed initially after a life changing event. This short list provides basic, healthy coping strategies to keep you moving during the first few days.

Artificial Nutrition
Making the decision to withhold or withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration raises intellectual, philosophical, and emotional conflicts for many people. It is often helpful for people faced with that difficult decision to understand what science and medicine have found regarding artificial nutrition and hydration at the end of life.

Karen Ann Quinlan
In 1975 Karen Ann Quinlan at the age of twenty-one became the focal point for the death with dignity or right to die movement after entering into an irreversible coma. Quinlan's was a landmark case that resulted in changing the way that many people look at life and death, what is a livable life and a dignified death. It also established a patient's right to refuse medical care and control his or her medical treatment.

Five Wishes
What is Five Wishes? How can it help me with advanced health care planning? Find out here.

Involuntary Euthanasia
Definition of Involuntary Euthanasia

Dying
Definition of Dying - What is Dying

Leading Causes of Death
In 2000 well over a third of all deaths in the United States could be attributed to a limited number of largely preventable behaviors and exposures--tobacco use (smoking), poor diet and physical inactivity and alcohol consumption.

Voluntary Active Euthanasia
Definition of Voluntary Active Euthanasia

Ways of Managing Distress
This article provides practical and postive ways of managing stress and distress.

Do We Need Palliative Care?
Whether or not to pursue palliative care is a very personal decision. It is one best made after talking with your physician and getting as much information as possible about your loved ones condition.

Types of Loss
There are numerous types of losses that a person may experience during a lifetime. There are many losses that occur during the dying and the grieving or bereavement processes. These losses include loss of significant person, relationship, body image or function, health, sexual function, control or religious beliefs, losses of job, income, home, property or treasured objects, loss of plans, hopes and future dreams, loss or role, identity, independence, innocence, freedom, safety or loss of life.

Bush Eulogy for Ford
This is the text of the eulogy delivered by President George W. Bush for former President Gerald R. Ford during the Funeral Service held at the Washington National Cathedral on January 2, 2007.

What is Palliative Care?
According to the World Health Organization, Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering.

Physiologic Age
Definition of Physiologic Age

Plan Your Own Funeral
Have you considered planning your own funeral? Here are 5 reasons why you should...

Remembering at the Holidays
Holidays can be difficult times for those who have lost a loved one, especially if it is the first holiday season. Finding ways of remembering the loved one as still being a part of the holiday can be helpful for family and friends. This article provides suggestions for ways of remembering a loved one who has died as well as some insights into coping with the loss of a loved one at the holidays.

Children's Hospice Bracelets
If you are looking for a unique gift that also supports a good cause, consider one of the Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition's Bracelets. 100 percent of the proceeds of the sale of these bracelets go directly to Children's Hospice. By giving this present to yourself or a loved one, you are donating to a worthy cause and giving a message of love, hope and healing.

Being with a Dying Person
At the end of life, what often matters most to a person who is dying is simply being--taking time to hold a hand, give support and just be. This article offers some suggestions for simply being with a dying person.

Palliative Care for Children
About palliative and hospice care for infants, children, and adolescents. Support for parents, families, and caregivers.

DNR
Short definition of a Do Not Resuscitate Order.

Child Coping with Death
Children tend to be highly resilient even when coping with a death or significant loss. This article provides information for parents, grandparents and other significant adults to provide them with ways to help a child cope with a death or a loss by maintaining routines, reassuring, reactions, reminiscing and remembering.

Death Pronouncement
This informative article looks at the topic of Death Pronouncement, the final medical act. Included are the steps that need to be taken prior to, during and after when someone is declaring that a death has occurred.

Pain Assessment
Information and tools to help you assess or evaluate the pain of someone you are caring for. Proper pain assessment can help you and your doctor treat pain more effectively.

Obituary Defined
An obituary is a notice or announcement, especially in a newspaper, of a person's death, often with a short account of their life. It is often the first thing many people read in the news each day and may be the last word written about a person's life.

Loss - Defined
Expanded Definition of a Loss there are numerous types of losses that a person may experience during a lifetime. Some of the losses a person may experience as a byproduct of living include loss of job, income, home, property, of a relationship or significant person, or the or treasured object(s) A person may also experience losses of loss or role, identity, independence, innocence, religious beliefs, freedom or safety.

Obituary or Death Notice
There are several things to consider before deciding to place an obituary or death notice. Many of the considerations involve the fact that an obituary notice is a classified advertisement and as such require fees to submit. Also include are a few more cost effective, unique and creative alternatives to the traditional death notice.

Life Support Decisions
Life support is any treatment intended to prolong life without curing or reversing the underlying medical condition. The decision of when to withdraw life support or if to begin it at all is a sticky one, muddled with confusing terms and strong emotions.

Hospice Statistics
In 2005 1.2 million people with life-limiting illnesses received care from one of the more than 4000 hospice programs in the United States. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice provided updated facts and figures representing data collected in 2005 as part of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Month celebrated in November.

Active Dying
Definition of Active Dying

Committal Service
Definition of Committal Service

Grieving Children
Learn about how children deal with grief. Find out what myths about children's grief could be keeping them from getting the support they need.

Adam's Law
25 years after his death - Adam's Law will Protect Children This law marks an important step forward in the Nation's efforts to protect children. It will strengthen Federal laws to protect children from sexual and other violent crimes, prevent child pornography, and make the Internet safer for our sons and daughters.

7 Ways to Whet an Appetite
Seven tips and tricks to stimulating an appetite that has been diminished by illness and one reason they may not work.

Finding Care
Suggestions and resources to help patients and families access palliative and hospice care.

Funeral Mass John Paul II
His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedictus XVI) delivered the following homily at the Funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II on the 8th of April, 2005 in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican.

Least Likely Ways of Dying
The various causes of death are combined with the person's odds of dying from a particular cause to determine which the various ways a person is least likely to die from during his or her lifetime.

Healers and Healing
This poem was written at the end of my residency about the lessons that I learned from my hospice patients, in particular, of the importance of knowing when to stop pursuing aggressive therapies and learning the importance of being present with a patient who is on the final phase of their life journey.

Suicide and Suicidal Behavior
Definition of Suicide and Suicidal behavior

Causes of Infant Death
From the CDC's (Center for Disease Control) National Center for Health Statistics, the latest data on the leading causes of infant (under 1 year) death in the United States. Data is based on the latest statistics available from 2003.

Recognizing Death
Signs of a death are provided for visitors to have an idea of what to expect and anticipate when a death occurs. These signs of death are general guidelines for telling a death has occurred. Not all people go through all the signs and some die suddenly. The criteria used by healthcare professional qualified to pronounce a death is included in parentheses.

Clinical Death
Definition of Clinical Death

Definition of Distress
Definition of Distress

Assisted Suicide Terms
What do you call it when a sick patient deliberately chooses to end his or her own life? What term is used to describe this process? Are there other terms that better describe physician assisted suicide? President of the Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization, Derek Humphry, takes a look at some of the terms and euphemisms used to describe physician assisted suicide and what happens when a sick patient chooses to end his or her own life.

Medication Safety
Here are important tips for patients and their caregiver for the safe use and administration of medications.

Levels of Hospice Care
There are four distinct levels of hospice care based on a patients needs: routine care, continuous care, inpatient care, and respite care.

Indirect Euthanasia
Definition of Indirect Euthanasia

Somatic Death
Definition of Somatic Death

The Kindness Project
The Kindness Project is a way of remembering a loved one and creating a legacy of love in memory of someone who has died. A loved one is remembered by a random act of kindness in memory of the person who has died, as a way of letting others know that this person's life continues to matter.

Intro to Difficult Decisions
Throughout most of our lives, medical decisions are quite easy. As one gets older, however, these decisions become more difficult to make. Find out why and how you can make the right ones....

Help a Child Cope with Death
How to Help a Child Cope with Death provides helpful information and suggestions for the important people in a child's life--parents, caregivers, teachers, medical professionals and other significant adults.

A Good Death
Definition of a Good Death

Funeral
Definition of a Funeral/Funeral Service

Columbia Memorial Speech
This is the memorial speech delivered by President George W. Bush during a memorial service at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2003, held in memory of the seven astronauts who lost their lives in Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

Cheney's Eulogy for Ford
This is the text of the eulogy delivered for former President Gerald R. Ford by Vice President Dick Cheney during the State Funeral ceremony in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Saturday, December 30, 2006. Vice President Cheney served as President Ford's Chief of Staff during Ford's administration.

Cancer
Palliative care programs were initially started to palliate the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation used to treat it. A majority of patients treated in palliative care programs nationwide are still cancer patients

Blessing to Comfort
This special wish was written to accompany a gift for a woman facing a terminal illness. When composing the blessing I tried to put myself in the place of someone who was living with a terminal illness and think of what words I might find soothing and comforting. This blessing has been shared with other families facing the inevitable loss and coping with the terminal illness of a loved one.

Coping beyond the Basics
Following a loss, death, tragic event or major life challenge, it may be difficult to remember to take care for oneself. After making it through the first few days just focusing on the basics, the grieving person may need some helpful suggestions to keep going. This short list provides additional coping strategies to keep you moving beyond first few days.

Dyspnea
Dyspnea is an uncomfortable awareness of breathing. It can be more distressing than pain to some patients and must be treated promptly. Find out how you can help...

The Four Things
A review of the book The Four Things That Matter Most, by Dr. Ira Byock, from the guide to palliative care and hospice.

Health Tips for Caregivers
If you're caring for someone who is elderly or ill, you will need to take care to keep them, and yourself, healthy. Find health tips here.

Challenger Eulogy
The following eulogy was delivered by President Reagan on January 31, 1986 at a memorial service held in Houston Texas for the Challenger astronauts--Dick Scobee, Michael Smith, Judith Resnik, Ellison Onizuka, Ronald McNair, Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe.

NSAID's
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a class of medications used to treat mild pain. They have similar properties as acetaminophen; they relieve pain and lower fevers. They differ from acetaminophen, however, because they reduce inflammation.

Dementia
When is palliative care appropriate for patients with dementia? Find information about dementia and hospice criteria for dementia.

Artificial Nutrition
Making the decision to withhold or withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration raises intellectual, philosophical, and emotional conflicts for many people. It is often helpful for people faced with that difficult decision to understand what science and medicine have found regarding artificial nutrition and hydration at the end of life.

Whole Brain Death
Definition of Whole Brain Death

Physician-assisted Suicide
Definition of Physician Assisted Suicide

Interment
Defintion of Interment

Info for Obituary
The information needed for publishing an obituary or a death notice varies depending on the type of notice published and the requirements of the newspaper. This article provides a list of the information to include in most obituaries or death notices.

Advanced Directives
Make your wishes known and plan ahead using an advanced directive. Find out what they are and how to use them here.

The Challenger Address
On January 28, 1986, President Reagan delivered the following address to the nation after the Challenger explosion. Only a few hours after the disaster, this speech was delivered to the American people via nationwide radio and television.

Teen Suicide
More than 5,000 Americans teenagers commit suicide each year. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in teenagers, only surpassed by auto accidents as a cause of death in teenagers. This health video is a beneficial resource for parents who may be concerned that their teen is thinking about suicide.

Decreased Appetite
Loss of appetite and weight loss are common with many life-threatening illnesses. Find out why and how you can help...

Deciding Where to Die
Making the decision where to spend the last day’s of life isn’t always easy. Each choice has its pros and cons and personal preference can sometimes be trumped by practicality. Find out how you can make that decision.

Myths and Truths
There are several myths that circulate in our society about grief and mourning. My hope is that becoming aware of these myths and the truths behind them will prepare you to move through the grief process more smoothly.

Hospice Myths
Despite recent growths in hospice awareness, access, and utilization, myths about hospice are still prevalent in our culture.

Chosing a Funeral Provider
There are many different choices to be made when deciding on a funeral provider, other burial or aftercare options after a loved one has died. This list of items can be helpful when comparing costs of various services offered by different providers and different types of providers.

Embryo, Embryonic Death
definition Embryo, Embryonic Death

Keeping a Vigil
Definition of Keeping a Vigil

Death in Everyday Language
When speaking of death and dying Americans, in particular, go to great lengths to avoid using the words dying, death, or dead. Instead various euphemisms-a mild, indirect or vague term or slang terms are used that are felt to be less harsh, blunt or offensive. In contrast, terms and expressions with death, dying, and killing are becoming part of the standard language. Death & Dying language can be found used in situations that have nothing to do with death, as part of the expressions we use.

Children's Hospice
The first part of this article reviewed the history and some of the changing views about Children's hospice. The article concludes with the vision of Children's Hospice Organizations for the future.

Tree of Light and Life
Many hospice organizations recognize that the holidays can be a distressing and difficult time for those grieving the loss of a loved one. They have created tree lighting ceremonies and remembrances as part of new holiday traditions to honor those who have died as a way of helping the survivors cope with the loss during the holidays, be around others who can empathize with their loss and share the memories of their loved ones who have died.

Grief Myths & Realities
People in Western society are socialized to believe certain things about the normal grief response; many of these are inaccurate and untrue. These common misconceptions and myths have become part of our cultural beliefs of the grieving process. This section explores the Myths and Realities about the Nature of Grief. This section explores the Myths and Realities about the Emotions and Physical Symptoms of Grief.

Memorial/Memorial Service
Definition of Memorial/Memorial Service

Probate
Probate is a legal process that takes place after a death. Find out what it involves here...

Withholding, Withdrawing
Definition of Withholding or Withdrawing treatment

Bunny
From Blue Sky Studio, the studio that produced Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, Bunny is a heart-warming earlier work that created a new standard in computer animation called "radiosity" to create a new dimensionality. This Oscar Winning Best Animated Short Film also explores the concepts of love, dying, reunion and life after death, with care, humor and realistic, beautiful computer imagery.

Online Obituaries/Memorials
Online Obituaries and Virtual Memorials allow family and friends to post their condolences and share their grief online 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This article provides information on this new way of memorializing loved ones who have died.

What is Pain?
Pain is a symptom that cannot be objectively assessed. Pain, therefore, is whatever the person experiencing it says it is.

Six Themes of a Good Death
Despite the recent recognition of the importance of End-of-Life Care and need for quality care at the end of life, people and professional alike remain confuse about what is considered to be a good death. Steinhauser and colleagues gathered descriptions of a good death from seventy-five different participants and identified six major components of a good death. This article reviews those components.

Definition of a Eulogy
Definition of a Eulogy

Grief
Definition of Grief

Complicated Grief
Definition of Complicated Grief

Anniversary Reaction
This article on the Anniversary Reaction explores the distressing, normal responses that survivors of traumatic or tragic events or loss experience response to anniversaries of the traumatic events. Also included are resources for coping during times of stress and distress, examples of turing tragedy into tributes, finding opportunities for healing with anniversaries and a list of organizations that had their origins in response to tragedy.

Compassion Fatigue
Definition of Compassion Fatigue