[Dr. H's Clipboard] 3 Tips for a Yearly End-of-Life Assessment

Published: Thu, 12/22/16

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3 Tips for a Yearly End-of-Life Assessment

When the ball drops in New York City on New Year’s Eve, will you be ready? When the bombshell of a cancer diagnosis hits you in the ER, what will you do: Listen to the doctor, or follow an assessment and plan of your own?

Sara was a 68-year-old woman who was not feeling well and had shortness of breath. The doctor thought Sara might have a blood clot in her lungs. Her CT scan showed that she had lung cancer that had spread to her liver, thyroid and kidneys. Sara smoked for many years, but she never imagined it taking a toll on her body.

Life, as Sara knew it, ended sooner than December 31. She needed a moment for reflection and time to make an assessment. She could stay in the hospital, but she had the option to go home and sleep on it. A home-base palliative care nurse was consulted and met with her in the ER.

Consider these tips for a yearly and end-of-life assessment:

5 Holiday Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

We all get wobbly during the holidays. 'Tis the season to become overwrought with expectations and anxiety. Simple pleasures are the best, especially when it comes to entertaining my 90-year-old mom. These advance care tips for spending a day with my mom gave me an idea. After lunch, she helped organize my envelope of jumbled family photos into "sibling piles." The images gave her an opportunity to razz me.

This article affirms, "Memories are the best gift you can give."

Read Article ...

Kevin's World

Secret Santa Brings Joy at Christmas

Christmas ornaments can prompt memories and tell stories about our lives.

This year a secret Santa gave my mom and each of my siblings a “Little Drummer Boy” ornament in honor of my dad. This was his favorite Christmas song and reflected his humility.

My new Christmas tradition is to create a "grieving tree," which is a collective keepsake of family members who have gone to another world.

Their contribution to my life is evergreen – present even in the absence of sunlight. Dad’s ornament that hangs from my tree shines forever as a gift from a Secret Santa.

Hear Dr. H

The Aware Show - Afterlife Summit

Watch Dr. Haselhorst's interview with Lisa Garr
on The Aware Show's Afterlife Summit.

The Aware Show's Afterlife Summit: Lisa Garr Interviews Dr Kevin Haselhorst

About Dr. Kevin Haselhorst

Dr. Kevin Haselhorst has enjoyed a lively career as an emergency medicine physician. While often caring for patients near the end of life, he has become painfully aware that they rarely seem to end life peacefully. These patients are typically burdened by multiple medical conditions, yet are repeatedly admitted to the hospital in hopes of holding off the inevitable. This results in patients and caregivers feeling more self-defeated and less personally fulfilled. He is the author of the book, Wishes To Die For,, which shows patients how to die with dignity.