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Consumers Petition the FTC to Force Funeral Homes to Post Prices Online
Consumer groups want the 32-year-old “Funeral Rule” revisedIn July 2016, the Funeral Consumers Alliance and the Consumer Federation of America joined forces in petitioning the Federal Trade Commission to revise its nearly 32-year-old Funeral Rule and require funeral homes to disclose their pricing online. Updating the rule is vital to protecting the interests of “one of the most vulnerable groups in the…
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Promising Alzheimer’s Prevention Study Is Underway
Researchers at the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute hope two investigational drugs may reduce or eliminate the protein linked to Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and incurable condition that affects as many as 5 million Americans age 65 and older, according to estimates by the CDC, and more than 46 million people worldwide. Now, researchers from the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute (BAI) are conducting a medical trial to determine whether two investigational anti-amyloid drugs — an active…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates beautiful hearts as an ongoing celebration of 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…
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No Longer the Last Nail in the Coffin: A Design Duo Wants to Zip You Up Instead
Visser & Meijwaard make fun, funky coffins for bold personalitiesMany people dread the idea of being locked inside a coffin and buried. But thanks to a Dutch design team’s innovative new zip-up coffins, that idea may be a lot less terrifying now. Design duo Steven Visser and Vera Meijwaard wanted to bring a fresh take to coffins, getting rid of the scary stuff entirely. Rather…
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Our Weekly Tip: Writing the Unsent Letter
Feel better by telling your loved one the things you didn’t get to sayOur Tip of the Week: Whether your loved one died suddenly or after a long illness, you may find yourself wishing you had said something to them. One last, “I love you,” perhaps, or an apology for something you did or did not do. An unsent letter is one way to manage and express your…
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“Awake at the Bedside”
Collection of essays and poetry resonate with patients, families, and helping professionalsInspired by his own grandmother’s dying journey, Ellison co-founded the New York Zen Centre for Contemplative Care, which operates based on the contemplative teachings of Zen Buddhism as outlined in this book. As the introduction states, “[t]his book isn’t about dying. It’s about life and what life has to teach us. It’s about caring and what…
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“Shine On”
An inspirational folk song that can lift the spirits of those struggling with griefWhen you are grieving a loss, there are times when simply getting up in the morning seems like too much to bear. Life itself can feel overwhelming and burdensome, as if the simple act of taking in air is too much of a fight. Even as you begin to regain your strength and put one…
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The Vanishing Act of Bereavement Fares
How the disappearance of airline bereavement fares are costing more than just moneyIf you’re anything like I am, most of your travel plans are made weeks, months and possibly even years in advance. That family vacation for next spring, the business trip your boss briefly mentioned over lunch… everything is coordinated ahead of time. Last November, I booked a flight to a conference in March, long before…
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