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