Category Archives: Emergency/Crisis Medical

POST is a flapping of butterfly wings

Posted on April 28, 2013 by dgermann

POST is a flapping of butterfly wings, a little thing, starting. :- Doug.

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If these are at odds, which do you choose?

Posted on April 21, 2013 by dgermann

If these are at odds, which do you choose? A. Life sustaining treatment B. Treatment that provides comfort, relieves suffering, and promotes doing your own activities of daily living :- Doug.

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Could family and friend caregivers come together…?

Posted on April 20, 2013 by dgermann

Could family and friend caregivers come together to help our national community better support the ones for whom we care? Perhaps we could concentrate on the three main trajectory disease groups: cancers and their cliffs; chronic heart diseases and emphysema … Continue reading →

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How will I know I’m dying?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by dgermann

How will I know I’m dying? How will my family know? :- Doug.

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For cure or for care?

Posted on April 13, 2013 by dgermann

If you are terminally ill do you want to be treated for cure or for care? :- Doug.

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The uncommonly good

Posted on April 12, 2013 by dgermann

Let’s look among us for the uncommonly good. :- Doug.

Posted in Aging, Caring, Conversation, Death and living while dying, Eldering, Emergency/Crisis Medical, Family, Healing and Wholeness | Leave a comment

Alzheimer’s now 6th leading cause of death

Posted on April 8, 2013 by dgermann

According to this NPR report, Alzheimer’s is now the 6th leading cause of death in this country. :- Doug.

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This is harder on your family:

Posted on April 3, 2013 by dgermann

It’s harder on your family to not have the conversation. :- Doug.

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“California daughters?”

Posted on April 1, 2013 by dgermann

What if we invited a room full of “California Daughters” to talk about end of life care for Mom and Dad? :- Doug.

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The case of Lorraine Bayless

Posted on March 16, 2013 by dgermann

The case of Lorraine Bayless is a perfect example: an 87 year old for whom no CPR was given holds a mirror up for us of the complexity of our end of life. We have a 75% idea about CPR … Continue reading →

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Three stages of health in our later years

Posted on March 3, 2013 by dgermann

There are three stages of our health in later years: Healthful years with few big issues; Years when bigger things start narrowing our possible issues; Frail times when we are in decline. Lawyers can help folks think generally and without … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Caring, Death and living while dying, Emergency/Crisis Medical, Family, Grieving, Healing and Wholeness | Leave a comment

A good way to die: When is love appropriate?

Posted on February 14, 2013 by dgermann

There is a big difference between working to end life and allowing life and death to take its course without fighting it interminably and pigheadedly. People must be allowed to die their own ways, whether violently and with invasive and … Continue reading →

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Dying post-maturely

Posted on February 10, 2013 by dgermann

We have always faced the risk of dying prematurely—from heart attacks, road accidents, falls, animal attacks. But now we may live too long—with too much medical treatment, too much needless suffering from CPR, respirators, being strapped and tied to beds … Continue reading →

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Take flowers.

Posted on February 9, 2013 by dgermann

Take Flowers: A friend of mine has a secret for getting good care for her uncle at the nursing home and hospital: she takes flowers and says “Thank you” to the staff who are helping her uncle. She takes cookies … Continue reading →

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Take names.

Posted on February 8, 2013 by dgermann

Take Names: When you are advocating for your Dad at the nursing home or doctor’s office, get personal. Find out the names of the people who are providing care. Not to know whom to sue or complain about, but to … Continue reading →

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Stay put.

Posted on February 7, 2013 by dgermann

Stay Put: What do you do when the doctor rushes out and you did not have a chance to ask all your questions? Ira Byock, in his latest book, The Best Care Possible: A Physician’s Quest to Transform Care Through … Continue reading →

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News: More hospice, more ICU

Posted on February 6, 2013 by dgermann

Friends– We’re using both hospice and the ICU more at the end of life. Today there is an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association describing a study with these results. There is a more plain English description … Continue reading →

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