Death and Life

Kids Need Us To Talk To Them About Death

Kids Need Us To Talk To Them About Death

by Lisa Pahl, LCSW
  Living with the risk of Covid-19 transmission and hearing about the hundreds of thousands of Americans that have died due to Covid-19, our chi...
Valentine's Day Tribute

Valentine's Day Tribute

by Lori LoCicero
This season’s design is very near and dear to my heart as it pays tribute to my late husband (Garcy’s father) Joe. “Add some hearts…and a blue rose to the design.” I asked her before she embarked on yet another hand-drawn version of our logo.
Making Difficult Conversations Easier Text messages and card games that help us talk about death.

Making Difficult Conversations Easier

by Special Guest Blogger
Our Special Guest Blogger is Emma Payne, Founder & CEO of Grief Coach. Grief Coach is a text-based grief support service to help navigate difficult times.
End of Life Times

End of Life Times

by Lori LoCicero
Read Lori's article "Talking to the Dead" featured in the End of Life Times: A Reimagine Community Newspaper.
Going Green

Going Green

by Lori LoCicero

I've recently changed my mind about this whole death thing.

Not the talking about it or encouraging others to do the same, but personally what I want to happen after I go.

DIY Celebration of Life

DIY Celebration of Life

by Lori LoCicero
Celebrations of life can be as unique as every individual. We all have a story, a legacy, a life worth celebrating. Why not gift your loved ones with your own creative input in the process? 
How to Prepare For a Medical Emergency

How to Prepare For a Medical Emergency

by Lisa Pahl, LCSW
On the month of my sixth anniversary working in the emergency department of a community hospital in Los Angeles, I have written some suggestions for how you can prepare for a medical emergency. People don’t plan to come to the ER. They are brought by ambulance or a concerned family or friend due to a medical crisis. 

Sometimes, people are unconscious or unable to provide information. Often, we may not even know their identity.

when I die...

when I die...

by Lori LoCicero

when I die…

Hopefully, it will not come anytime soon. I plan to see 100 years and beyond. But plans sometimes change. We’re not in control.

What's the Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice?

What's the Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice?

by Lisa Pahl, LCSW
Hospice and palliative care both provide a multidisciplinary approach to symptom management for people with serious illness. How are the programs alike and how are they different?

Stop Telling Dad That Mom Is Dead

by Lisa Pahl, LCSW

As with many things surrounding death and grief there is no “right” answer and no one path. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when navigating the grief process for those with dementia.

to die a peaceful death

to die a peaceful death

by Lori LoCicero
Death is unpredictable, yet inevitable. When we avoid the topic, we find ourselves unprepared and thrown into chaos when it arrives unexpectedly. When we accept that it will come and utilize it as a teacher and reminder, we can prepare for and make peace with it.

Don't Leave It To Your Family To Decide

by Lisa Pahl, LCSW

Often times in my work as a hospice social worker, and now when playing The Death Deck, I spend a lot of time talking to people about their end of life wishes. In doing so, I regularly encounter the mindset, “Let my family decide, I don’t care.” At first glance, and to many people, this seems like a nice gesture. The assumption is that the individual is so easy going that they are willing to let others decide how to handle their end of life experience and what is done with their body.


Unfortunately, this type of thinking often leads to their family members being in stressful and complicated situations.