Category Archives: Family

Working on Wills

Posted on January 6, 2015 by dgermann

I work on people’s wills—their will to care well for one another in and out of nursing homes, in end of life, in families. :- Doug.

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Family conferences

Posted on January 5, 2015 by dgermann

In family conferences conclude by going around the table giving each person 60 seconds to say what our direction ought to be. :- Doug.

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Morally wrong to lengthen life?

Posted on January 4, 2015 by dgermann

If it is wrong morally to shorten life, is it as wrong to lengthen? Is it wrong morally to do inadvertent violence to one dying or to his or her family? :- Doug.

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can deny our loved ones a gentle easy death

Posted on December 31, 2014 by dgermann

With the long tail illnesses we now have, we may not be able to choose our own deaths, but we certainly can deny our loved ones a gentle easy death. We subject them to hours and days of suffering and … Continue reading →

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the long conference

Posted on December 29, 2014 by dgermann

My forte is the long conference. It is important to me to know people, to absorb one another. :- Doug.

Posted in Caring, Conversation, Dreams, Eldering, Family, Healing and Wholeness, Long-Term Care and nursing homes | Leave a comment

Unless we so clench our teeth

Posted on December 27, 2014 by dgermann

There is nothing wrong with looking for minuscule possibilities of extending life or regaining health. Unless we so clench our teeth we do not live our lives now as fully as ever we can. :- Doug.

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Even that

Posted on December 25, 2014 by dgermann

Even that Let go :- Doug.

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How to love in a nursing home?

Posted on December 25, 2014 by dgermann

How to love in a nursing home? How do we bring life to Mom? A good day to Dad? :- Doug.

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Cure, salve, presence:

Posted on December 24, 2014 by dgermann

Cure, salve, presence: what we can do for one another. Any one can heal. :- Doug.

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Work

Posted on December 23, 2014 by dgermann

Conversation is work. :- Doug.

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We grow weary

Posted on December 22, 2014 by dgermann

A new picture this morning about the dying process: not so much downhill as uphill: the road grows steeper as we go, and requires more energy, more traction, and we cannot. This seems more hopeful for some reason, more gentle, … Continue reading →

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nuances

Posted on December 22, 2014 by dgermann

Conversation is not in the Yeses and Noes, but also in the nuances of colors. :- Doug.

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Talking heals

Posted on December 19, 2014 by dgermann

Talking heals. :- Doug.

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How can we make end of life fulfilling, healing?

Posted on December 17, 2014 by dgermann

How can we make end of life fulfilling, healing? :- Doug.

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

Do you picture yourself

Posted on December 16, 2014 by dgermann

Do you picture yourself again running a marathon, walking the entire grocery store, babysitting the grandchildren for a week? What is your most realistic recovery? :- Doug.

Posted in Conversation, Death and living while dying, Dreams, Family, Healing and Wholeness, Long-Term Care and nursing homes | Leave a comment

Framework for the end of life conversation:

Posted on December 14, 2014 by dgermann

I have come to some framework for thinking about the end of life conversation: 1. we don’t know when death is approaching; 2. we never anymore reach the point of nothing more we can do; 3. having the conversation reduces … Continue reading →

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Alzheimer’s is not a solitary disease

Posted on December 10, 2014 by dgermann

Alzheimer’s is not a solitary disease It is the dis-ease of being made solitary :- Doug.

Posted in Aging, Caring, Eldering, Family, Healing and Wholeness, Long-Term Care and nursing homes, Poetry | Leave a comment