No one likes to think or talk about death and dying. But it's a reality we all face-more and more people are taking charge of how they will live out their final days. This becoming known as the "good death." Through life, we want to have as many new experiences as possible but in the end what really matters are the simple things. This is found in many cultures and known as socioemotional … [Read more...]
The History of Hospice
The term hospice is derived for the word "hospitality." Dating back to medieval times, it was know as a place where ill travelers could stay during their journey. It was until 1948 was the term "hospice" used in medicine. Dame Cicely Saunders created the first modern hospice in London, St. Christopher's Hospice. Here is a timeline of the history of hospice. 1965: Florence Wald, then Dean of … [Read more...]
Hospice and Cultural Consideration
Houston is known for being the top city for cultural diversity, passing New York City and Los Angeles. Understanding how different cultures approach death is very important. Through hospice, we provide grief services for everyone involved, but cultural practices are often overlooked. There are many transitions that happen at the end of life and through these transitions there things you should … [Read more...]
7 Hospice Myths and Misconceptions
Hospice care isn’t always the easiest thing to talk about and many people don’t have a clear idea what hospice actually is. Even after 25 years, most Americans aren’t aware of the advantages hospice brings. This mostly comes from our country’s resistance to talk about death. However, hospice is undoubtedly this best choice for end of life care. Not only for the patient, but the family as well. … [Read more...]