By Kriston Wenzel, LSW Talking about death is not something most of us are comfortable doing—even with other adults. Sometimes in the midst of our own grief, we forget that death can present a tremendous blow to even the youngest children. Children understand death very differently than adults, depending on their age and stage of [...]

By Roxanne Smedsrud, RN When I was in junior high, my great-grandma Ree went to live in the nursing home in Devils Lake, N.D. She had dementia and could no longer care for herself.  At the time, I knew that dementia meant she couldn’t remember things, and I thought it was just a normal part [...]

By Mary Lou Dahms I recently listened to an online discussion moderated by Don Schumacher, president of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and featuring Dr. Ira Byock, renowned author, lecturer and practicing hospice physician. The focus was on dialoguing with individuals about their disease situation and the apparent path ahead. I have heard [...]