Overview

A compassionate guide to navigating the emotional and practical realities of supporting a loved one at life's end. When faced with a loved one's serious illness, many families find themselves overwhelmed, uncertain, and afraid. In this compassionate guide, hospice nurse and educator Maureen Groden, RN, offers a sympathetic and deeply human glimpse into one of life's most challenging passages. Groden shares true stories of families navigating the final chapter of a loved one's life to explain the universal emotions, decisions, and realizations that emerge during the dying process. Readers meet families like their own—grappling with fear, love, sorrow, and strength—while learning how the health care system works when a family member is seriously ill, what decisions they may need to make, and how to care for their loved ones. These powerful accounts offer expert guidance and practical insights that help readers prepare for what lies ahead. Groden provides clarity and comfort while explaining symptom management, hospice services, and the subtle, poignant ways that families and loved ones can say goodbye. This thoughtful guide invites readers to see that although death brings undeniable sorrow, it can also deepen bonds, cultivate resilience, and offer moments of profound beauty. This book is a steady, reassuring companion for anyone facing the uncertainties of end-of-life care—an essential resource for families seeking understanding, courage, and peace.

Full Product Details

Author:   Maureen Groden
Publisher:   Johns Hopkins University Press
Imprint:   Johns Hopkins University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 14.00cm , Height: 2.20cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.386kg
ISBN:  

9781421453934

ISBN 10:   1421453932
Pages:   232
Publication Date:   14 April 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Introduction. Why Talk About Death? Chapter 1. I Can't Believe This Is Happening Chapter 2. Does Palliative Care Mean That Mom Is Dying? Chapter 3. Good Days and Bad Days Chapter 4. When Is Active Treatment No Longer Worth It? Chapter 5. How Long Does Mom Have to Live? Chapter 6. From Discord to Harmony Chapter 7. The Family Circle at the End of Life Chapter 8. Dealing with the Crisis of Pain Chapter 9. Morphine Doesn't Kill People, Diseases Do Chapter 10. Managing Anxiety and Restlessness Chapter 11. I Just Can't Do This Anymore Chapter 12. Nothing Left Unsaid Chapter 13. Keeping Things Normal Chapter 14. The Agony of Waiting for Dad to Die Chapter 15. Soothing the Soul Chapter 16. Bringing Dad Home to Die Chapter 17. Saying Goodbye Conclusion. Final Words Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Author Information

Maureen Groden, RN, is a hospice nurse and educator.

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