Blog: Hospice & Palliative Care Insights - October 2017
Finding Meaning at End of Life
Regardless of an individual’s religious background, it is natural to take stock as you approach end of life. Spiritual concerns take on even greater significance, which is why chaplains are an essential part of the Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care team. Addressing spirituality at end of life is an important piece of the whole-person-care, team-based approach of hospice, which includes treating the patient’s physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Supporting a Child with Autism in Their Grief
Posted on October 25, 2017
As the name of the developmental disorder indicates, children with an autism spectrum disorder are diverse and unique; they are similar to and different from children without autism and with each other. Autism covers a wide spectrum of symptoms, behaviors, and functioning levels. Now add to the uniqueness of autism, the uniqueness of grief – specifically grief over the loss of a loved one. 
When is it Time for Extra Care?
Caring for a loved one can be an exhausting responsibility. For grown children, caring for an elderly parent is often an emotional as well as a physical trial.
Navigating Family Disagreements on Goals of Care
In a perfect world, every patient would have clearly laid out wishes for their end-of-life care. These would be spelled out in advance directives and faithfully advocated for by their family. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. Some patients do not complete an advance directive – and whether they have or not, many times family members disagree about the best course of action.
Body Donation After Death: What You Need To Know
Organ donation has become a well-known practice, and many families find it comforting to know that their loved one’s organs are helping another person live. Body donation after death is less frequently discussed, but the benefits to the scientific and medical research community can be just as substantial.