Table of Contents

1. Setting the Stage

2. Choices

Home, hospital or hospice
Legal and financial issues
Curing or healing
Assisted suicide and euthanasia
Rights and responsibilities

3. A Healing Environment

Why are surroundings so important?
Who’s in charge?
A return to the senses
Seeing
Hearing
Touching
Smelling
Tasting
Visitors

4. Comfort

Why comfort?
Skin care and hygiene
Mouth care
Nourishment
Problems that may arise

5. Healing the Spirit

Spirit as a loving presence
The God of childhood and adult spirituality
Human value and dignity
Family issues

6. Caring for the Caregiver

Your emotions and your health
Stress and burnout
Steps to healthy self care

7. Changes: Your Body and Mind

Grieving the future you won’t have
The signs of a failing body
The signs of a healing mind
Unfinished business
To the caregiver living with a loved one’s changes

8. The Last Dance

No dress rehearsal
Welcoming the transition
Things to do and say
The signs of impending death
Making room for the angels

9. Your Memorial or Funeral Service

The obituary
Planning the service
Participating in your own service
Burial or cremation

10. Counting on Life to Heal the Grief

The stages of grief all in one hour
Multiple losses
Keeping anniversaries
Keepsakes and remembrances
Guarding your grief

11. Closing the Circle