Death & Dying

When a Loved One Doesn’t Have a Will
Death & Dying

When a Loved One Doesn’t Have a Will

Martin Shenkman, CPA, JD | August 13, 2023

A man walked into tax attorney Martin Shenkman’s office some years ago with a problem—he had inherited a large sum…

Facing an “Impossible” Health-Care Decision? How to Get the Help You Need
Death & Dying

Facing an “Impossible” Health-Care Decision? How to Get the Help You Need

Mark Aulisio, PhD | October 14, 2019

When tough calls must be made for a loved one’s life-threatening ailment, here’s the key hospital resource that can guide you…

A Way to Give Comfort at the End of Life: Comfort Food
Death & Dying

A Way to Give Comfort at the End of Life: Comfort Food

Margaret L. Campbell, PhD, RN | February 28, 2019

Comfort food—ice cream, mac-and-cheese, beer—are more important than nutrition at end of life. Here’s how to give this joy to a dying loved one.

Surrogate Health-Care Decisions: Are You Sure You Know What Your Loved One Wants?
Death & Dying

Surrogate Health-Care Decisions: Are You Sure You Know What Your Loved One Wants?

January 17, 2019

You probably don’t know what treatments for serious illness your loved one does or doesn’t want, a new study finds. Here’s what you need to do now…

Beware of These Hospice Shortcomings
Death & Dying

Beware of These Hospice Shortcomings

Linda R. Beck, JD, BCPA | January 14, 2019

Hospice is designed to ease suffering at the end of one’s life. But not all providers fulfill this promise. How to avoid common problem areas…

Write This Letter to Avoid End-of-Life Regrets
Death & Dying

Write This Letter to Avoid End-of-Life Regrets

Rebecca Shannonhouse | November 7, 2018

Don’t wait until it’s too late to mend old wounds with loved ones. Writing this letter will allow you to live—and die—without regrets.

How to Treat Health Problems When “Life” Is Not Living?
What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You

How to Treat Health Problems When “Life” Is Not Living?

David Sherer, MD | November 8, 2017

Are physicians really doing a disservice by prolonging a life that is rife with pain and suffering? The question is complicated and will only get more so.

Fascinating Facts
Death & Dying

Fascinating Facts

June 11, 2015

Leading cause of death, based on age... Birth to age 12 months: Birth defect Age 1 to 44: Unintentional injury…

Death Infographic: What We Really Do (and Don’t) Die From
Death & Dying

Death Infographic: What We Really Do (and Don’t) Die From

December 3, 2013

It’s only natural, after hearing about some calamitous event that claimed human lives—be it a car crash, killer storm, crazed…

Doctor-Assisted Suicide: Straight Answers to Tough Questions
Death & Dying

Doctor-Assisted Suicide: Straight Answers to Tough Questions

Sherwin B. Nuland, MD | July 22, 2013

Vermont recently became the fourth state in the US—after Montana, Washington and Oregon—to pass a law allowing doctor-assisted suicide (DAS).…

Antibiotics at the End of Life: Yes or No?
Death & Dying

Antibiotics at the End of Life: Yes or No?

Erika D’Agata, MD, MPH | June 6, 2013

Excess Antimicrobial Use Found in Patients with Advanced Dementia A new study has identified a trend toward the increased prescription…

A Great Trip…Can Magic Mushrooms Deliver Peace at the End of Life?
Death & Dying

A Great Trip…Can Magic Mushrooms Deliver Peace at the End of Life?

Roland R. Griffiths, PhD | October 1, 2012

Not that I’m an advocate of taking a pill to solve life’s problems... but a drug that could help dying…

A Kinder End for Dementia Patients?
Real Estate

A Kinder End for Dementia Patients?

Will Johnson | September 19, 2012

When a person you love is in the final stages of advanced dementia, it’s a day-to-day struggle to provide care…

Video Motivates Decision-Making about End-of-Life Care

Video Motivates Decision-Making about End-of-Life Care

Nancy Kalish, PhD | September 6, 2012

Pictures Speak Louder than Words All religious beliefs aside, medical and legal experts counsel individuals to create living wills and…

How to Make End of Life Easier for Your Loved Ones
Death & Dying

How to Make End of Life Easier for Your Loved Ones

Alexi A. Wright, MD | July 27, 2012

Greater Comfort, Peace of Mind at End for Those Who Talk About It Talking about death can be difficult so…