Dying

So we’re knee-deep into the hot days of summer, and the perils and predictions continue to get worse. Already this summer, record-breaking temperatures have blasted many areas of Europe, with the death toll across Europe exceeding 20,000 just in June (with limited air conditioning being one of the reasons). While…

Despite the controversy that surrounds its availability and use, Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) appears to be gaining ground in the US in terms of public support, legal availability, and use by those at the end of their lives. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that about…

No one indeed escapes death, yet how you die can be an extraordinarily personal experience. And those personal thoughts and choices as to what can happen appear to be having a moment, as even celebrities are now not only discussing their thoughts about death but are in fact choosing to…

Every year, April 16 marks the occasion for National Healthcare Decisions Day, a recognition of the importance of thinking about your end-of-life care decisions, documenting them on state-approved forms, and sharing your wishes with loved ones and health care providers, to ensure that your wishes are known and respected regarding…

You think the cost-of-living these days is expensive? Just wait until you see the cost-of-dying! According to a recent article in The Washington Post, the dire reality of how expensive the last days of your life can be is not well known to most people. Yet it’s critically important when…

The data are distressing, especially as they paint a portrait of older adults. As one of the leading causes of death in this country, suicide (harm to oneself with the intent to die) affects all age groups. In the year 2023 alone, close to 50,000 deaths- one every 11 minutes-…