Advance Care Planning / End of Life

No one likes to contemplate what might happen if your cognition, or that of a loved one, begins to deteriorate and dementia is on the horizon. But some of us are planners, and for those who like to map out the road ahead, there are tools and strategies available for the…

For too long, physicians have been hesitant to speak with patients about a poor prognosis or approaching end of life. Often out of fear of harming their relationships with patients, or dimming whatever hopes remain, doctors have been reluctant to engage in these difficult conversations. Now, in a new study…

No matter how often you’re told that planning in advance for serious illness is essential for you, your family and your health care team, so many of us still refuse to fill out forms or partake in conversations. And as our society continues to age, such advance care planning just…

It’s no surprise, yet it needs to be reiterated, that another major public survey has found that conversations, and documentation, around medical care at the end of life fall short of the mark for most people. A new survey out from the Kaiser Family Foundation underscores that many people have…

Is your family one that loves to play board games? Looking for a new one for that next family gathering? Well, say hello to Hello, a new game available for purchase from Common Practice, meant to stimulate conversations around living, dying and what matters most in life. Viewed as a method to…

Thinking about care options and anxieties as you deal with a late stage illness can be very hard. Talking with loved ones may just heighten the emotional tenor of such conversations. Sometimes it may make sense to speak with someone a bit removed- and sometimes that someone may not even…