Grief

If you know, you know. That is, if you’re a pet owner (dog, cat, or other), having a pet in your life is usually a non-negotiable, deeply pleasurable experience (while not denying the responsibilities of pet ownership). The dilemma is, for those of us getting on in years, owning and…

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-…

It’s one of the sad rights of passage as you get older to experience loss. Whether it’s your parents, a spouse, another loved one, or a friend, few of us reach our later years without experiencing loss several times over. And just because you are exposed to loss doesn’t mean…

None of us leaves this world alive, and as Dame Cicely Saunders once said, “How people die remains in the memory of those who live on.” We are therefore fortunate to live in an era when the option of having a “death doula” has become more commonplace in helping individuals…

After a week of celebrating Halloween and The Day Of The Dead, you may be having thoughts about “the afterlife.” From our earliest recorded history, interest in and connection with an afterlife has been an ongoing part of celebrations and rituals around dying and death. Around the world, cultures acknowledge…

None of us escapes loss and death during the course of our lives. Whether it’s the death of a loved one (be it an aging parent, spouse, or even a child), the disintegration of a beloved friendship, or the separation from a cherished occupation, we will all experience feelings of…