Facing a Death in the Family Caring for Someone Through Illness and Dying Arranging the Funeral Dealing with the Will and Estate
Carey, Anne
Facing a Death in the Family Caring for Someone Through Illness and Dying Arranging the Funeral Dealing with the Will and Estate by Margaret Kerr & Joann Kurtz (John Wiley & Sons)
Death is a fact of lifewhether a sudden, unexpected death or a death after a long, painful illness. Another fact of life is that most of us are unprepared to handle death and dying, particularly from a practical point of view. There is much to be done when a family member passes away. But it can be extremely difficult to deal with all the necessary arrangements especially when you are also dealing with your own feelings of grief and loss.
This book offers a practical guide to dealing with the death of a family member. Many of these topics are difficult to ask questions about, but the answers are important. This book provides all the information in a userfriendly format.
Topics covered include: what you can plan in advance to make things easier, what is involved in planning for a funeral; where to find the kind of care you need, whether that be home care, hospital care, or in a nursing home or hospice; and how to probate a will and administer an estate.
Wills, living wills, power of attorney, guardian of the person are among the many terms that are explained in an easy-to-understand way. Many topics that don’t come up in everyday conversation are also discussed, such as burial vs. cremation, dealing with funeral homes and so on.
This book doesn’t claim to have all the answers but what it does present is a wealth of information to someone facing a death in the family. It begins with information on what to do when a family member first becomes ill, then caring for one who is sick, through managing the affairs of someone who no longer can. It walks you through the “dark hours” – discussing pain control, and the end of life. It then discusses what to do after the death, including information on looking after those who are still alive (children, pets, surviving spouses, etc.).
I found this book had a tremendous amount of information on a very difficult topic. it would be very useful for someone experiencing the sudden or severe illness, or death of a family member.
Copyright Alberta Association of Registered Nurses Nov/Dec 1999
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