Doctors in our modern medical system are trained in ways to heal, restore, prolong life, and prevent death. But what happens when there is no more healing, no more restoration, no further prevention available and the only thing being prolonged is the inevitable death of a patient? Dr. Jessica Nutik Zitter, M.D., a board-certified physician […]

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, in 2015 there were approximately 43.5 million caregivers that provided unpaid for care to an adult or child in the last 12 months – with 34.2 million providing unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older. The majority of caregivers (82%) care for one adult, […]

We prepare for the end of our life by creating living wills and power of attorneys, but when the dying process actually begins to take place, we still tend to reach for medical technology in the attempt to exhaust all other possibilities. Unfortunately, what’s being sacrificed with that is quality of life. It’s completely natural […]

Have These Two Health-Related Documents An advanced directive, also known as a living will, and a durable power of attorney (POA), also known as a health care proxy, are the two most important documents you should have for your end-of-life planning. The living will lays out the type of medical treatment you want – things like […]

Alexa never imagined at 46 years old what her life would be as a full-time caregiver. Her mother, having lived independently for years and still working well into her 80’s, began showing signs of uncharacteristic behavior like confusion, agitation, and decreased physical stability. It wasn’t long before Alexa knew she needed to intervene. After several doctor visits […]

Oftentimes, we feel we need to “fix” or “save” those who suffer deeply and yet the best thing we can do is offer ourselves in simple presence and attention. Doing this creates a space for the other person to show up and just be without experiencing an onslaught of advice. Neal Buomo, a 68-year-old retiree, […]