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Obese Persons Receive Lower-Quality End-of-Life-Care, Study Shows
An article published this week reveals findings from the first study to look at obesity and hospice careResearch published this week in Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that obesity is linked to reduced hospice enrollment rates, fewer in-home deaths and greater Medicare expenditures six months before death. The research was published by John A. Harris, MD, MSc, from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and colleagues. The team conducted the first study…
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“An Empty Seat in Class”
Musings on student deaths and how teachers and communities can cope with tragedy in this bookRick Ayers’ book “An Empty Seat in Class” deals with an issue that many of us probably don’t consider very often: how the death of a student impacts teachers. “An Empty Seat in Class” is comprised of 10 sections, each dealing with a different idea related to coping with the death of a student. In most…
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“You Are Not Alone”
A musical classic reminds us that death does not have to be a lonely experience.When a loved one dies, one of the first things many of us do is make a phone call. Whether it’s to those that were closest to our loved one or to other family and friends of our own, connecting with others after a death seems automatic. And while one might argue that these calls…
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How to Age Alone in the Era of “Elder Orphans”
Fewer Baby Boomers have family and friends to rely on for careAn estimated 22 percent of Americans over the age of 65 are at risk of becoming “elder orphans,” according to a recent study. Elder orphans are individuals who don’t have younger family members, friends or spouses to rely on for support as they go through the aging and dying process. These 43 million Americans are…
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“Memorial to D.C.”
Poem to a lost friend evokes love and longingThere is an old joke among writers that nobody likes to write but everybody likes to have written. Nothing could have been further from the truth for poet and playwright Edna St. Vincent Millay (1889-1950). Her love affair with words began in her childhood and lasted a lifetime. She enjoyed nothing more than coining just the…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates beautiful hearts as a tribute to enduring loveIt’s an honor for SevenPonds to share with our readers the story of the Monday Hearts for Madalene project, a true account of the power of love in the midst of death.The project’s origins take us to 2005: the moment Page Hodel encountered Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.” The couple’s first meeting was electric,…
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A Unique Assisted Living Facility Offers Dementia Patients Hope
The Ohio-based Lantern communities create a stimulating atmosphere for clients with Alzheimer’s and dementiaTraditionally, assisted living facilities are quite drab environments. Even those that strive for a more welcoming atmosphere, with amenities like communal dining rooms and colorful decor, typically fall far short of providing a setting in which residents feel at home. For elderly persons with Alzheimer’s or dementia, this institutional atmosphere is not just inhospitable, it’s…
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America’s Life Expectancy Is Lowest in 20 Years
Americans are dying younger today, and nobody is sure whyLife expectancy in the United States dropped for the first time in nearly two decades in 2015, according to a recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics. The decrease followed a several-year stretch in which the nation’s life expectancy stayed relatively flat after years of steady gain. The mortality rate also increased by…
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“Good to Go: A Guide To Preparing for the End of Life”
Radio Personality Jo Myers’ neighborly end-of-life guide for baby boomers and their parentsJo Myers left her job in radio after a 33-year career to write “Good to Go: A Guide to Preparing for the End of Life.” And the book is exactly what it purports to be — a guide to end-of-life planning geared towards baby boomers and their parents. Meyers decided to write “Good to Go” when…
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