How Hospice Care Brings Families Together
When Gail and Gloria admitted their elderly mother to hospice as she neared the end of her life, they mentioned that they had a younger brother who had been estranged from the family for the past [...]
How to be an Effective Healthcare Decision-Maker for Your Loved One
Choosing a person to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to speak for yourself is one of the most important steps you can take for your future wellbeing. That person will stand up [...]
When You Can’t be Present for a Last Goodbye
When my niece died in hospice in another city this summer I was unable to travel there to say goodbye before her death. I was crushed that I didn’t have one last opportunity to hold her hand and [...]
Happy Holidays from the staff and volunteers at The Denver Hospice!
Over the last several years, volunteers and staff from The Denver Hospice have come together to celebrate the Holidays with the patients and families we serve. We are thrilled to share that this [...]
“Nothing keeps a good man down”
“Veterans in hospice care know what it means to sacrifice and to serve. As a volunteer, I’m here to listen if they want to tell their story. Sometimes that can be very meaningful for them, but I [...]
Preserving My Mother’s Dignity at the End of Her Life
When my mother reached the end of her life she had only two requests: that she be able to die in her own home and that I be by her side. But I knew as well that it would be very important for her [...]
My Autobiography is Still Being Written
I’m writing to share my story about why The Denver Hospice is so special and to demystify and encourage others to look into art or music therapy because it has meant the world to me.
Simple Questions to Start an End-of-Life Conversation with an Elderly Loved One
Statistics show that when people talk about their healthcare wishes long before they reach the end of life, they receive less unnecessary and expensive care when they are dying. An excellent [...]
How Being a Caregiver Helped Me With Grief
As a hospice doctor I have often worked with families caring for a dying loved one at home. But I have only once had the opportunity to switch places and be the caregiver myself when my mother [...]
How I Helped My Mother Choose Hospice Care
As a hospice physician who has cared for thousands of patients at the end of their lives, I had always assumed that hospice care would be an obvious choice for my mother when it came time for her [...]
Blindsided by the Diagnosis; the Story of Losing my Son
Losing a child is a parent’s worst nightmare. Terry Hoag never saw it coming. He had enjoyed a successful career as a human resource executive and, more recently, as an artisan. But no role will [...]
From Experiencing Loss to Giving Back
For 12 years, Sheri and Gene were unstoppable. Gene built a successful career as a senior officer at a Fortune 500 company before retiring at age 60. The couple traveled the world’s most [...]