Quick Overview Whats going to happen? How will we manage? There are things I still want to do. Im afraid... As death approaches, both patient and family must cope with grief, pain, and seemingly unanswerable questions. Its a time of challenge, of concerns. But, as hospice nurse Karen Whitley Bell reminds us, it also offers an opportunity to explore and rediscover the fuller, richer meaning of life. Drawing on her years of experience, Bell has created a comprehensive, insightful guide to every aspect of hospice care and the final stages of life. She discusses the physical, emotional, and spiritual journey a dying person goes through; care-giving during this difficult period; closure, and loss and the lessons it teaches us. In addition to her warm, yet knowledgeable voice, readers get firsthand accounts of experiences in hospice care, making Living at the End of Life accessible, reassuring, and indispensable. Review: "As a hospice nurse for 16 years, Bell understands the concept of a 'good death.' A daily witness to fatal illness and end-of-life moments, Bell's powerful message is aimed at making sure the final months or days of a patient are well-lived, marked by peace, comfort, and a chance to say goodbye. Illustrating the tenets and benefits of palliative care with firsthand accounts of her patients, Bell manages, as stated by American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine co-founder Charles G. Sasser in his foreword, to place readers 'at bedsides during one of the most intimate of life's dramas.' As such, she delivers a wealth of useful information on pain management, choosing a hospice and general day-to-day care giving in a powerful, hard-to-forget way. Straightforward and empathetic, with an easy-to-navigate style, Bell details what to expect in both physical and spiritual terms, including practical considerations as well as ways to find closure and cope with loss." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Book News Annotation: Bell, a hospice nurse, offers a guide to common questions posed by those facing the end of life, as well as those of their loved ones. Through stories, checklists, and suggestions, she discusses the physical, emotional, and spiritual changes that occur, legal and practical issues like advanced directives and medical power of attorney, pain medication, coping with dependence, how to plan a funeral, managing caregiving and selecting a care facility, fears about death, coping with loss, addressing conflict and unresolved issues, supportive therapies, and how to find meaning in life. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) A surprisingly warm and informative resource on hospice and other end-of-life care options--now available in paper! Individuals approaching the end of life, and their loved ones, face many challenges--but as hospice nurse Karen Whitley Bell reassures us, this difficult time also offers an opportunity to explore and rediscover a richer meaning in life. Drawing on her years of experience, Bell has created a comprehensive, insightful guide to every aspect of hospice care and the final stages of life. For people in hospice care, as well as their friends and families, this is an indispensable reference, a trustworthy
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