VOLUNTEER SUPPORT GROUP

MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 5:00-6:30 pm

Aloha Patient Volunteers. Please MARK YOUR CALENDARS to attend our meeting on August 3rd. Come increase your knowledge and skills, and share your experiences and insights about this deeply rewarding work. Active volunteers are encouraged to attend whether or not you currently have a family/patient assignment. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVPs are appreciated. Location: Kauai Hospice Conference Room.

INSTAGRAM: WHAT DOES A BEAUTIFUL DEATH LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

BY: SUNITA PURI, MD

A good death is usually defined as one free from avoidable distress and suffering, and one that aligns closely with the patient's choices, dignity, and cultural values. However, there are other elements that may contribute to a peaceful transition. End Well has posted a thought-provoking video clip of Palliative care physician and author Dr. Sunita Puri who shares her thoughts about what a beautiful death looks like to her. She explains it is it is a death marked by acceptance and surrender. Click here to watch. (No need to sign up or log in; just click the "X" in the upper right corner to close the pop-up window.)

End Well is a nonprofit on a mission to transform how the world thinks about, talks about, and plans for the end of life.

YOUTUBE: SHARING A DIAGNOSIS

BY: SARAH KERR, PhD (Centre for Sacred Deathcare)

(4:01 minutes)

If you or a loved one has received a big diagnosis, it can be overwhelming to know how or when to share this news with others. Even the thought of speaking it out loud can be difficult and intense, making the diagnosis feel more real. Kerr shares a useful practice for communicating with loved ones, in a way that supports both you and them. It is a way to create helpful boundaries around the flow of love and grief, and allow yourself the crucial support you need. Click to learn more...

EXCERPT: STICKY NOTES

FROM: "WHAT DYING CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT LIVING, WITH DR. BJ MILLER"

An Interview with Sarah Cavanaugh, Peaceful Exit (Nov. 10, 2025)

Sarah: I was talking to a friend a couple days ago and she was telling me about her grandmother, who would put sticky notes under things. So someone would say, you know, I love this teacup. She'd grab a little piece of tape then put their name on it. And so this was happening for years and so by the time she died there were sticky notes everywhere. She still enjoyed those items, but she gifted them before, well before she left.

BJ: Beautiful. I've heard a lot of stories like that. I wonder if for her, you know, when she would look at those objects and use them and see those sticky notes, I would imagine that enriched her own experience, knowing that she was gonna stay connected to these people even after she was gone.

Sarah: Absolutely. She even shared that on her 90th birthday. All the grandchildren got together and did a skit about the sticky notes where they were like, they were trading, and so she actually got to see them enjoy the process of what she was offering. 

ARTICLE: POOF! YOU'RE A CAREGIVER

BY: JAHNNA BEECHAM

Creating the possibility of a good death takes planning. Families are often overwhelmed trying to handle health emergencies, confusing legal matters, and prepare for the worst, while trying to live their own lives. Recognizing that an all-inclusive manual -- a sort of “Death for Dummies” guidebook did not exist at the time, co-authors Jahnna Beecham and hospice nurse Katie Ortlip, LCSW collaborated to fill a need. It was also during a time when Jahnna's 90-year-old father's long-dormant prostate cancer was now metastasizing. Read a touching excerpt from their book: "Living with Dying: A Complete Guide for Caregivers" (2016) with a firsthand account on the struggles and realizations about caregiving for a loved one.

BLOG: WHY MORPHINE IS USED WHEN SOMEONE IS DYING

BY: BARBARA KARNES, RN

"Morphine is one of the most misunderstood medications in end-of-life care… and with today’s medical advances there is no reason for anyone to die in pain," writes Karnes, an end-of-life nurse educator. When the body is shutting down due to an advanced, irreversible disease, there may be severe pain, anxiety or agitation, and labored breathing. To provide comfort care, properly managed morphine use can decrease pain levels, ease breathing and decrease anxiety. Symptom management by nurses and physicians who specialize in this, will bring comfort and quality care to the dying. "At no time is morphine used with the intent to end life." Click here to read.

BLOG ARTICLE: SOME MUST-KNOWS FOR DYING WELL

BY: SCOTT BUCHANAN (Economist Writing Every Day, July 7, 2026)

In this short article featured in Hospice & Palliative Medicine SmartBrief, Scott Buchanan shares his experiences as a caregiver for dying relatives. "If you are the potentially dying person, choose your medical POA (Power of Attorney) very carefully. The POA needs to be strong, competent, and 100% on board with your wishes," Buchanan writes. This is a vital component in end-of-life care and it can be one of the hardest steps to execute well. To understand the challenges, click to read.