Friday Five

The Friday Five is our weekly roundup of links to smart articles and helpful resources across the Web.

1. We hear plenty of myths about hospice care each day. Unless you've experienced the benefits of hospice care or you've worked within the hospice community, chances are you've heard some misinformation about what hospice is. The Hospice Foundation of America has a Myths and Facts web page with a few common misconceptions and the facts about what hospice care is.

2. We are always encouraging family caregivers, our staff, and our volunteers to remember to take care of themselves. Self care is incredibly important when you're caring for others, especially in often overwhelming situations such as care for a terminally ill individual. This blog post, "Taking care of yourself sometimes means being selfish," offers an excellent analogy and image to help explain the necessity of self care.

3. Casa de la Luz was honored to be asked by a local NPR reporter to be a part of his article about the changing landscape of retirement and old age. His article, "Retirement Redefined: What Happens If You Outlive Your Savings," includes quotes from one of our Inpatient Unit social workers, Kim Bingham. Thanks to reporter Michel Marizco for highlighting an important and personal issue to many older adults out there. 

4. When it comes to facing a terminal illness, many of us don't know what to do until the time comes. Are you living with a serious illness? The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's Caring Connections program offers a number of articles for those living with an illness. Learn more about managing symptoms, making practical decisions, how to talk to your doctor about pain, and more.

5. The Casa de la Luz Foundation presents an annual conference about end of life issues every fall. This year, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen is the keynote speaker for Listen, Learn, Live: Stories of Life, Mysteries of Death.