journey's end hospice

Se habla Español (mas o menos bien por una gringa).

Proud member of:

• Meet the Team
• Testimonials
• Charitable Contributions
• Is it time?
• Transmissible Disease Policy
• Before Your Appointment
• The Day of Your Pet’s Euthanasia Appointment
• Preserving your Pet’s Memory
• End of Life Care
• Euthanasia Authorization Form
• Patient History Form
• Testimonial form
• Pet Memorial form
• Coping with Your Loss
• Children and Pet Loss
• Pet Memorials
• 603-420-8074

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Digestive Health
• Multiple Sclerosis
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• Occupational Therapy
• Healthy Aging
• Health Insurance
• Public Health
• Patient Rights
• Caregivers & Loved Ones
• End of Life Concerns
• Health News
• Thyroid Test Analyzer
• Doctor Discussion Guides
• Hemoglobin A1c Test Analyzer
• Lipid Test Analyzer
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer
• What to Buy
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Medical Expert Board

End-of-Life Stages Timeline

What to expect as someone nears death

• 40 to 90 Days Before
• 1 to 2 Weeks Before
• Days to Hours Before

Frequently Asked Questions

The dying process usually begins well before death takes place. It's common to move through certain end-of-life stages that follow a general timeline.

Being tuned in to the physical, mental, and emotional changes of your loved one can help you recognize the signs that they're dying. Knowing more about the end-of-life process may help you better prepare for what's to come.

Still, nothing about that process is certain or applicable to everyone. The dying journey has several milestones, but not everyone stops at them all. A healthcare practitioner may be able to give you a sense of your loved one's expected timeline as they move through these stages.

This article explains a typical end-of-life timeline and what happens to someone mentally, behaviorally, and physically. While some people may follow this closely, others may cycle through these stages far faster (even within days) or for months.

Signs: 40 to 90 Days Before Death

The dying process often comes into view about one to three months before death. Many of the experiences that take place at this first end-of-life stage are broadly common but the specifics can depend on the individual.

Physical Changes

As the body starts to slow down, a dying person may have the following physical signs:

• Reduced appetite
• Reduced thirst
• Increased sleeping
• Weight loss
• Mild sense of happiness and well-being ( euphoria ) due to natural changes in body chemistry

The reduced appetite and weight loss can be alarming, but it helps to know your loved one isn't suffering in any way by not eating. This is a natural and expected part of their journey.

The reason it's okay is that their body no longer needs as much energy. That need also decreases when they stop regular activities and start sleeping more.

Mental and Behavioral Changes

Social and cultural factors help shape a person's dying experience. For example, gender roles can be a factor.

Talking Openly About Death

Research suggests men are less likely than women to openly talk about their mortality and end-of-life wishes. One reason might be that men find it more difficult to ask for help and don't want to come across as "needy."

These differences aren't necessarily unique to one gender identity, though. Plenty of women struggle to talk about their death and don't want anyone to feel "burdened" by caring for them.

Religious and cultural backgrounds can influence how someone feels about the dying process. Depending on their beliefs, certain practices, rituals, and customs can be steps along the end-of-life timeline.

Withdrawal and Reflection

As they start to accept their mortality and realize death is approaching , they may start to withdraw. They're beginning the process of separating from the world and the people in it.

During this stage, your loved one may say no to visits from friends, neighbors, and even family. When they do accept visitors, it might be hard for them to interact. That may make you feel rejected, which is especially hard when you know your time with the person is limited.

This stage is also one of reflection. The dying person often thinks back over their life and revisits old memories. They might also be going over the things they regret.

Signs: 1 to 2 Weeks Before Death

Verywell / Cindy Chung

The dying process starts to move faster in the last week or two of life. The acceleration can be frightening for loved ones.

As death approaches, you may want to "correct" them if they say things that don't make sense—but it's better not to. At this stage, it's better to listen to and support your loved one rather than to risk upsetting them or starting an argument.

For example, your loved one might say that they see or hear a person who died before them. In those moments, just let your loved one tell you about it.

You might feel frustrated because you can't know for sure whether they're hallucinating, having a spiritual experience, or just getting confused. The uncertainty can be unsettling, but it's part of the process.

At this point in the end-of-life timeline, a dying person's body has a hard time maintaining itself. Your loved one may need help with just about any form of activity.

For example, they may have trouble swallowing medications or refuse to take them. If they have been taking pain medications, they may need liquid morphine now.

During this end-of-life stage, signs that death is near include:

• Body temperature that's one or more degrees lower than normal
• Lower blood pressure
• An irregular pulse that may slow down or speed up
• Increased sweating
• Skin color changes, with lips and nail beds that are pale, bluish, or, in people of color, purplish
• Breathing changes (e.g., a rattling sound and cough)
• Less or no talking
• Sudden arm or leg motions

During this stage of the end-of-life timeline, people tend to:

• Sleep most of the time
• Become confused
• Have altered senses
• Experience delusions (fearing hidden enemies, feeling invincible)
• Continue or begin having hallucinations (seeing or speaking to people who aren't present or who have died)
• Become restless (pick at bedsheets or clothing, have aimless or senseless movements)

It can be hard for you to witness these changes, but it's important that you remain supportive.

Signs: Days to Hours Before Death

In their last days or hours, the dying person may go through several possible stages.

Surge of Energy

The last few days before death can surprise family members. At this stage, your loved one may have a sudden surge of energy. They may want to get out of bed, talk to loved ones, or eat after having no appetite for days or weeks.

You may take these actions as signs that a dying person is getting better, but the energy will soon go away. It can be hurtful to watch this happen but know that this is a common step within the end-of-life timeline. These energy bursts are a dying person's final physical acts before moving on.

The surges of activity are usually short. The previous signs of being close to death return more strongly once the energy has been spent.

Breathing Changes

At this stage, a dying person's breathing becomes slower and less regular. Rapid breaths followed by periods of no breathing at all ( Cheyne-Stokes breathing) may occur. You may also hear a " rattling " sound when they breathe.

These changes can be unpleasant to witness but you should try to remember that these are not signs your loved one is uncomfortable.

Change in Appearance

Your loved one's hands and feet may start looking blotchy, purplish, or mottled. The changes in skin appearance may slowly move up their arms and legs.

Also, their lips and nail beds may turn bluish or purple, and their lips may droop.

Unresponsiveness

At this end-of-life stage, a dying person usually becomes unresponsive. They may have their eyes open but not be able to see their surroundings.

It's widely believed that hearing is the last sense to stop working. Knowing this can remind you that it's still valuable to sit with and talk to your dying loved one during this time.

Reaching the End

When your loved one stops breathing and their heart stops beating, death has occurred. They have reached the end of their journey.

Signs can be evident one to three months to three months before someone's death. Physical, mental, and behavioral changes are common.

In the week or two before death, the dying process speeds up. They may start being confused and periodically not making sense. Their bodily process may slow down or become erratic, but the person may also appear restless.

In the final days or hours of life, many people have a brief surge of energy and seem like they're doing better. However, once the surge passes, they may appear worse. You may notice breathing changes and skin discoloration.

Knowing these signs may help you prepare for your the end of a loved one's life and bring you comfort as you face the physical and mental changes that happen along the end-of-life timeline.

A Word From Verywell

Supporting a loved one at the end of their life can be difficult, but you don't have to go through it alone. Reach out to a hospice , social worker, or clergy member to help you navigate the process. They can help you recognize and understand some of the changes that are happening as your loved one moves through the process of death.

The pre-active stage of dying can last around two to three weeks. That said, there are many factors that contribute to how long the entire process of dying takes for each person, such as their illness and medications.

There are some physical signs at the end of life that means a person will die soon, including:

• Breathing changes (e.g., shortness of breath and wet respirations )
• Cold hands and feet 
• Constipation
• Decreased appetite and thirst
• Incontinence
• Restlessness

As the body slows down to prepare for death, the metabolism slows down and requires less food. The digestive tract is also less active, which means a dying person won't feel hungry or thirsty.

When a person near the end of life stops eating entirely, it is a sign that death is near. It can be as quick as a few days or up to 10 days. However, some people survive for a few weeks after they stop eating.

That's not necessary and is a personal choice. A dying person will become unconscious, but that does not always mean they are completely unaware of their surroundings. It may bring you (and perhaps, them) some comfort to stay, if you'd like to.

Foundation of America. Signs of Approaching Death .

Hospice Foundation of America. A Caregiver's Guide to the Dying Process .

Skulason B, Hauksdottir A, Ahcic K, Helgason AR. Death talk: gender differences in talking about one’s own impending death .  BMC Palliative Care . 2014;13(1). doi:10.1186/1472-684x-13-8

Hartogh GD. Suffering and dying well: on the proper aim of palliative care . Med Health Care Philos . 2017;20(3):413-424. doi:10.1007/s11019-017-9764-3

Department of Health, Victoria Government. Managing Physical Symptoms During Palliative Care ,

Wholihan D. Seeing the light: End-of-life experiences-visions, energy surges, and other death bed phenomena . Nurs Clin North Am . 2016;51(3):489-500. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2016.05.005

Marie Curie Foundation. Final Moments of Life .

Blundon EG, Gallagher RE, Ward LM. Electrophysiological evidence of preserved hearing at the end of life . Sci Rep . 2020;10(1):10336. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67234-9

Hospice Foundation of America. Signs of approaching death .

By Angela Morrow, RN Angela Morrow, RN, BSN, CHPN, is a certified hospice and palliative care nurse.

• Publications

• • What Is Palliative Care?
• • Emotional Health
• • Spiritual Health
• • Symptoms & Health Concerns
• • Providing Care
• • Communication
• • Decisions
• • Financial Assistance
• • Final Days
• • Seriously Ill Children
• • Caregiving
• • 2SLGBTQ+
• • Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
• • Asked and Answered
• • The Video Gallery
• • Discussion Forums
• • Ask a Professional
• • Your Stories
• • MyGrief.ca
• • KidsGrief.ca
• • YouthGrief.ca
• • The Learning Hub
• • Tools for Practice
• • Quick Consults
• • The Exchange
• • Courses and Conferences
• • For Volunteers
• • Take a Bow
• You are in:
•  Home  
•  For Professionals  
•  Tools for Practice  
•  Journey’s End: Death, Dying and the End of Life

Journey’s End: Death, Dying and the End of Life

Find out what Canadians are asking

Our team of experts answers your questions about life-threatening illness and loss.

Join the Discussion Forums

Recommended by our team

Find local, regional, and national services

• For Professionals

• Copyright 2003-2024 Canadian Virtual Hospice. All Rights Reserved.
• Privacy Policy
• Legal Notices

End-of-Life Signs Timeline

Hospice is a unique and different experience for everyone. You or your loved one may feel emotional, fearful, at peace, spiritual, or unsure of your feelings. The goal of hospice is to treat the person, not the disease, and to focus on providing the greatest quality of life possible for the patient. The Crossroads team works to achieve this by making the patient physically and mentally comfortable, and one of the ways we do this is by providing patients and their loved ones with a detailed understanding of the end-of-life stages timeline . This timeline helps people to assess where they are in their journey as well as what to expect next.  

If a patient loses their appetite or sleeps more, seems to withdrawal from others or becomes restless, this is not a cause for panic. It is part of the natural process. Since end of life is such a unique experience , individual patients may move through the symptoms below more quickly or slowly than expected. It’s possible that this timeline does not exactly match what you or your loved one is experiencing, but it should be useful as a guide to know what to expect, and to know that you are no alone .   

End-of-life Timeline Stages :

One to three months prior to end of life.  

• Decreased appetite, showing a lack of interest in eating
• Increased sleepiness, showing a growing desire for sleep
• Increased sense of ambivalence to people or the environment around them 
• Increased pain and nausea
• Increased risk of infections
• Noticeable loss in weight 

Patients may become more withdrawn, less active, less communicative, and possibly even more introspective during this time.  

One to two weeks prior to end of life.  

• An even greater desire to sleep
• Perhaps stopping all eating 
• Increased restlessness
• Increased congestion
• Increased levels of confusion
• Increased hallucinations or visions, often involving loved ones who have passed
• Changes in vitas such as temperature, respiration, pulse, and blood pressure

It is not uncommon for patients at this stage of the hospice end-of-life timeline to experience difficulty in taking oral medications or hydration. Patients may also lack the will or energy to get out of bed.  

Days or hours before end of life.  

• May experience a sudden and brief surge of energy
• Blood pressure may continue to decline
• Breathing may become erratic 
• Hands and feet may become cold, purple, and/or blotchy
• Pulse will weaken
• Eyes may become glassy or teary, or only be half open
• Urine output may decrease  

During this time it, you may also notice a Death Rattle or that their skin, particularly on their hands and feet, has become increasingly mottled and blotchy.  

Minutes until end of life.  

• Expect eyes and mouth to remain open
• Expect gasping breathing
• You may be unable to wake your loved one

It is impossible to predict the time of death, it may take hours or even days. The final stages of the end-of-life timeline can be difficult. Patients should be made as comfortable as possible and the environment should be peaceful and well lit. Individuals can range anywhere from unresponsive to lucid and clearheaded to confused and may be prone to hallucinations. These are all normal end - of - life responses.  

How will you know death has occurred?  

The final stages can be the most difficult as well as the most emotionally taxing. It is also possible that you will not be able to tell if your loved one has passed – this is why it is best to have an expert present.  

We recommend you discuss with the patient and loved ones how the final moments should take place. Consider a type of music that should be playing, spiritual rituals you would like included, items like flowers or pictures that should be in the space, and try to take a moment to say goodbye .  

Accepting hospice and preparing for the moment of death are two different things and many people are not prepared for the latter. Read through the end-of-life stages timeline above and ask your physician or a Crossroads team member if you have any questions. Beyond physical care, we provide resources for patients and their families when preparing as well as accepting death.  

Journey Hospice: Exceptional hospice and palliative care

Hospice care.

Hospice care provides support to individuals and their loved ones during an advanced illness, ensuring that every person’s journey of life is allowed to end with dignity, compassion, and comfort.

When a family is faced with a serious illness and a devastating diagnosis, there are many decisions to be made throughout the process. As a person’s needs change, or an illness progresses, one may decide that comfort and quality of life matter most—and it’s time to consider hospice care.

Our compassionate team empowers the patient to make every moment on their journey count—providing the ability to embrace life and to cherish moments with loved ones.

Each plan of care is personally tailored and is designed to nurture the individual based on their needs. Services can include symptom and pain management, family support, education, access to therapies, spiritual guidance, and bereavement counseling.

Palliative Care

Journey Hospice recently expanded its services to provide palliative care to all patients in need. Palliative care is a comprehensive treatment plan to help patients living with a serious, chronic, or life-threatening illness manage their symptoms more comfortably. It is implemented in tandem with a patient’s primary medical treatment to help keep them as comfortable as possible, and improve their quality of life.

Journey Hospice has developed a palliative care team of experts who provide treatment for relief from: pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, anxiety, problems with sleep, depression and a number of other ailments. Palliative care is appropriate for those who have difficulty managing their care resulting in frequent hospital stays. Patients do not have to be in hospice or end-of-life care to receive palliative care services. Patients of all ages are able to receive care whether their medical condition can or cannot be cured.

Providing palliative care to the New Jersey area and to patients in nursing homes and assisted living communities fulfills Journey Hospice’s mission of providing the best care for each patient and their family. Our palliative care experts can meet each patient’s individual needs at any particular point of their journey, with both a skilled medical, and holistic caring approach, providing the interventions and support needed.

Our program consists of a team of exceptional professionals dedicated to providing compassionate and dignified care focusing on the physical, social, and spiritual needs of all persons experiencing loss and life-limiting illness. Team members include:

• Highly experienced medical director
• Hospice nurses skilled in symptom assessment and pain management
• Social workers experienced in emotional support and planning
• Spiritual coordinator
• Specially-trained home health aide
• Bereavement counselors
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapists
• Hospice care team to coordinate medication, therapies, equipment, or supplies necessary to maintain patient comfort

Who We Serve

As with all Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey programs and services, Journey Hospice provides compassionate care to people—together. Journey Hospice serves people of all backgrounds, faiths, and ages experiencing loss and life-limiting illness. Journey Hospice serves patients throughout southern New Jersey in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties, in northern New Jersey in Essex and Morris counties, and in Pennsylvania in the greater Philadelphia area.

Care Settings

Hospice care can be provided wherever a patient resides, whether in a private home, assisted living or nursing care residence, or a community-based hospice residence. This decision is typically made by the family with the guidance of the hospice care team and is based on their wishes and preferences. Discussions between the family may reveal the patient’s wish to remain at home to receive end-of-life care or that limitations may be present and prevent care to be managed well at home. Whatever the choice, we are able to accommodate each request.

Together we are partners in this journey. Our purpose is to provide comfort, relieve physical, emotional and spiritual suffering, and promote the dignity our patients throughout their end-of-life journey.

Quality of Care

Journey Hospice has been named a Hospice Honors Elite recipient by HEALTHCAREfirst, a leading provider of billing and coding services, CAHPS surveys, and advanced analytics. This prestigious annual review recognizes agencies that continuously provide the highest level of quality care as measured from the caregiver’s point of view. It acknowledges the highest performing agencies by analyzing the performance of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) hospice survey satisfaction measures. Journey Hospice is proud to report it met 100% of the 22 Hospice Quality Indicators.

• Our Purpose
• Community Services
• Senior Healthcare & Retirement Living
• Stay Connected

• The Authors
• Journey’s End

An Overview of Journey’s End: Death, Dying, and the End of Life

In Journey’s End: Death, Dying, and the End of Life , it is our privilege to compile a great variety of content and resources. We have several goals for their use:

• To serve as educational tools in the training of professionals, students and volunteers
• To help and support families and friends as they prepare for and live through times of dying, death and bereavement
• To add to the cultural conversation and comfort level with the topic of death and dying

Chapter content in our book includes the following:

• Defining and Describing Death, Dying, and End of Life
• Palliative and Hospice Care
• A Good Death
• Unique Perspectives on Death: Personal Stories by Professionals and Lay People
• The Dying Individual’s Perspective
• Death of a Spouse or Life Partner
• When the Whole Is Split in Half by Elaine Mansfield
• Finding A Way Through by Evelyne Banks
• I’ll Be Yours if You’ll Be Mine by Cheryl Jones
• Through Our Endings We Find New Beginnings by Jean Bota
• Death of a Parent
• Memories of My Father by Jordan Grumet, MD
• Being-with My Dying Dad by Julie Saeger Nierenberg
• My Father Loved Words! by Linda Darrah Reynolds
• Multiple Losses by Jan Larsen-Fendt
• A Teen’s Perspective on the Death of a Parent by Carol Brannan Marimpietri
• Mom’s Story by Sue Rumack
• Death of a Grandparent or Great-Grandparent
• My Grandmother by Victoria Brewster
• “Did Your Dada Melt Like the Snowman?” by Julie Saeger Nierenberg
• Death of a Sibling
• The Deaths of My Three Siblings: Loss Without Answers and No Time To Heal by an Anonymous Contributor
• Death of a Child
• We Would Have Died for You: The Journey of Bereaved Parents by Maria Kubitz
• An Unspeakable Loss by John Brooks
• Perspectives on Death and Dying by Elizabeth Gillman
• Davey’s Story by Victoria Hargis
• Death of a Grandchild
• Silently Born by Pamela Christie
• Death of an Infant or Unborn Child 
• Miscarriages, Infertility, and Stillbirth by Victoria Brewster
• Forever Parents: Reducing a Lifetime of Regrets, Sadness, and Emptiness After Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Other Infant Deaths by Sherokee Ilse
• When Part of Us Dies Through Death by Choice by Keith Branson
• A Child’s Perspective on Death
• Death of a Friend
• A Death Can Change a Life by Patty Burgess
• A Broken Kaleidoscope by Mark Darrah
• Death of a Friend in Childhood by Victoria Brewster
• Death and the Blended Family
• Josh and Ginger: Precious Days from Diagnosis Till Death by Virginia L. Seno
• A Tapestry of Dying Woven Into the Fiber of Life by Julie Saeger Nierenberg
• Violent Death and Lack of Knowledge or Resolution
• Violent, Unresolved Death and Its Effects on Those Who Wonder by Julie Saeger Nierenberg
• Jerry Died Two Years Ago and I Just Found Out Today by Julie Saeger Nierenberg
• Physician Suicide
• Professional Support and Caregiving Perspectives
• A Homecare Provider’s Perspective by an Anonymous Contributor
• Primary Care Physician-Internist
• Intimacy by Jordan Grumet, MD
• Introducing the Palliative Care ICU by Jordan Grumet, MD
• Hospice and Palliative Physicians
• The Perspective of a Hospice Physician by John Shuster, MD
• Finding Maria: Spiritual Care and Alzheimer’s Disease by Karen Wyatt, MD
• Delivering the Bad News by Andrew Thurston, MD
• A Nurse’s Perspective
• Caring for Paul by Cynthia Cooper, RN
• Hospital and Hospice Support Providers
• Ministering Out of Empathy and Experience: I Am a Chaplain by Sheryl Nicholson
• A Hospice Worker’s Perspective by Marcy Rosen Bernstein, LCSW
• Intensive Care Unit, or ICU, Physician
• Death of an Intensivist by Gabriel Heras La Calle, MD
• Professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics
• Bioethics in Neonatal Medicine by Guillermo Godoy, MD
• Emergency Medical Service Worker
• The Perspective of a Paramedic by David Laliberté
• Social Worker
• Death of Clients: What I Have Learned by Victoria Brewster, MSW
• Clinical Ethicist
• Palliative Sedation as a Means of Dying: A Closer Look at the Benefits and Harms by Karen Smith, PhD
• Peace Officer
• You Can’t Cop Out: Death in the Line of Duty by Major Lynn Jones, Retired
• Military Veteran
• My Experiences of Dying and Living, War and Peace by Yosef Ben Avraham Yaacov
• Grief and Bereavement Support Professionals
• Hearts Wide Open: Reflections from a Support Group Leader by Elaine Mansfield
• The Grief Counselor: Public Misperception by Rea L. Ginsberg
• Post-Abortion Grief: A New Grief in Contemporary Society by Anne Lastman
• Ceremonies and Celebrations: Memorializing Death
• Non-Denominational Celebration of Life Officiates
• Sharing and Recording Treasured Memories by Beverly Molander and Dave Savage
• Religious and Spiritual Perspectives
• The Jewish Outlook at End of Life by Rabbi Michael Wolff
• An Akashic Soul Path Reader’s Perspective on Death by Salima Pirani, Siam Reiki Master Teacher
• How to Take Spirit and Soul Home by Sue Rumack, SoulDancer
• Therapy Dog for the Ill and the Dying
• Living, Healing, and Transforming with Seamus by Robert S. Ball, MSN, RN
• End-of-Life Communication
• What It Takes to Have Successful End-of-Life Conversations by Virginia L. Seno
• Three Tools to Start End-of-Life Conversations by Virginia L. Seno
• Right Choice for You: A Menu of Questions for Your Critical Care Choices by Virginia L. Seno
• Too Busy to Die by James C. Salwitz, MD
• Meaning Beyond Words by Claire Willis
• Companionship in Song for those at the Threshold of Living and Dying
• End-of-Life Educational Training
• Education for Healthcare Professionals and Students
• End of Life Care Is a Core Part of Medicine by James C. Salwitz, MD
• Hope by Andrew Thurston, MD
• A Delicious Mystery: An Unknowable Passage Makes for Compelling Education by Patty Burgess                                                          
• Planning and Preparedness
• Dealing Proactively with Issues around Death and Dying
• Advance Care Planning, Mandates, Powers of Attorney
• The LastingMatters Organizer: Where Loved Ones Find What Matters Most by Barbara Bates Sedoric
• The Cost of Caring by Blair Botsford
• On the Road to Legal Wellness: Planning Your Power of Attorney for Care by Blair Botsford
• End-of-Life Checklists from Plan While You Still Can by Donald M. Burrows
• Changing Our Cultural Understanding of Death and Dying
• It’s OK TO DIE™ When You Are Prepared: Monica Williams-Murphy, MD, and Kristian Murphy, Advocating for End-of-Life Preparedness
• When End-of-Life Care Is Ongoing: Acknowledge, Assess, and Assist Families to Transform from the Embedded Grief by Eleanor Silverberg
• Natural Death
• Allow Natural Death: A Different Model of Care for Frail Elders and Those Who Love Them by Robin Gordon Taft
• Assisted Suicide
• Brittany Maynard’s Legacy by Steve Byrne
• Brittany Maynard’s Peace Be With Us by Julie Saeger Nierenberg
• Death with Dignity, Physician-Assisted Suicide, and Euthanasia
• Canada and Assisted Dying by Victoria Brewster                         
• When Death Happens: The Role of the Funeral Home, Post-Death Support Services, and Alternative Burial Options
• Funeral Professional
• The Exhaustion of Death by Jeff Harbeson
• Death Midwife
• Death Midwifery and Home Funerals by Cassandra Yonder                 
• Practical Support After a Death
• After a Loss by Heather Taylor
• Alternative Burial and Funeral Options
• Grief and Bereavement, Support During and After Death
• Effects of Grief on Those Who Remain
• Disenfranchised Grief
• My Griefs: Passing On by Vicki M. Taylor
• Healing Rituals and Other Forms of Bereavement Support
• Death Cafés and Other Venues for Talking About Death
• Death Café: The Importance of Talking About Death by Jean Bota
• Beyond Death Cafés: Discussing Death, the Most Important Conversation You Need to Have by Sheryl Beller-Kenner, EdD
• Near Death Experiences
• The NDE and Other Premonitions of Eternity by Lee Witting
• Discussion Questions: Food for Further Thought

About the Author

Written by Victoria Brewster & Julie Saeger Nierenberg

Julie Saeger Nierenberg is a freelance writer and editor, lifelong educator and artist, a proud parent and "grand-partner." Julie lives in Canada. Inspired by the experience of her father’s dying and death, Julie published a short memoir about her family’s grief and loss. Daddy, this is it. Being-with My Dying Dad launched a true journey of connection and transformation, as Julie reached out to share it with those who assist the dying and bereaved. Following that memoir's publication, Julie received numerous end-of-life perspectives from others, some of which are available in Journey's End: Death, Dying and the End of Life. Writing and publishing in this heart-led direction, Julie hopes to contribute to a cultural shift in how we prepare and support others in the final chapter of life. Julie also enjoys writing and editing legacy writing, fiction and nonfiction works; she feels privileged to help other writers succeed.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Name (required)

Email (required)

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

• A Letter to My Mama, One Example of a Legacy Letter
• How Much Life Is Enough?
• Being-with My Friend and Being-with Me
• Our Paper Anniversary
• “If You Knew” is a Poem by Ellen Bass

Recent Comments

• https://www.imdb.com/user/ur121930826/ on A Steady Stream of Serendipity
• cialis on Did Your Dada Melt Like the Snowman?
• cialis coupon on “If You Knew” is a Poem by Ellen Bass
• buy cialis pills on How Much Life Is Enough?
• comprare cialis online on Violent, Unresolved Death and Its Effects on Those Who Wonder
• November 2020
• December 2019
• September 2018
• February 2018
• December 2017
• November 2017
• October 2017
• August 2017
• Entries feed
• Comments feed
• WordPress.org

Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley

Ensuring quality of life in any stage of illness

(315) 265-3105

Mailing Address: PO Box 510, Potsdam, NY 13676

The Traveler’s Guide to Life: Road Maps for the Journey’s End

St. Lawrence County Residents

__________________________________________________________________________________________

St. Lawrence County Residents Click here to order

Give your family the gift of peace of mind this year!  For 40 years, Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley’s committed staff and volunteers have listened to, offered support, and answered questions for countless patients, and their families, traveling the end of their life journey.   We have learned that doing advance planning well before end-of-life helps us appreciate life while living while also providing comfort and guidance when your family needs it most.

To help community residents, of all ages, give this gift to their families, Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley is proud to introduce “Road Maps for the Journey’s End” – a comprehensive workbook that helps document and organize financial information and important documents, online accounts and social media, end-of-life healthcare and funeral wishes, and the legacy you want to leave behind.  Hospice has packed 40-years of wisdom into this road map guide full of resources to help you and your family find peace of mind and live a full life.

Local Pick-up orders: 

Order Online and select local pick up for shipping and pick up your copy at the Hospice Administrative offices.

Shipping orders: Flat Rate shipping is available. To order more than 1 copy, please contact us at [email protected] or by phone at (315) 265-3105

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-St. Lawrence County Residents

Non-St. Lawrence County Residents Click here to order

While Road Maps for the Journey’s end is a project created by Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley to benefit residents of St. Lawrence County, NY, the information is relevant no matter where you live!

If you live outside of St. Lawrence County, NY, you may purchase an electronic copy of the book to download or a print copy to be mailed to your home.  Click on the link above to order either version.

Please don’t hesitate to call us at 315-265-3105 if you have any questions or want to purchase a large quantity.

With you every step of the way.

At journey hospice, everything we do centers around loving and caring for our patients and our community..

For Patients & Family

Ways we provide care.

Adult Hospice Care

Specialized end-of-life care for patients in the final phase of illness

Grief Support

Counseling, support groups, and other resources to facilitate a safe and healing environment

Why families choose Journey Hospice…

Our team is dedicated to delivering a meaningful patient and family experience with every interaction.

Available 24/7

Experienced, collaborative care teams, superior clinical quality, patient story, lloyd "mac" mclawhorn.

"There are no words to explain how great they have been to my dad." — Mac's son

A World War II veteran, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Lloyd “Mac” McLawhorn lived life to the fullest. To his family, Mac was an inspiration, a comedic relief, a bold leader, and a comforting presence in uncertain times. He was a revered mentor and friend, who made even the most mundane tasks feel like an adventure.

It goes without saying that Mac’s joy for life and love for others has left a lasting impact, and Journey Hospice is grateful to have had the opportunity to care for Mac and his family at our Lowcountry Community Hospice House.

Watch Video

We Provide Care in All 46 SC Counties

See if we serve your area, or call us: 833-345-5455, overland park , ks.

Columbia , MO

Lee’s summit , mo, st. louis , mo, tuscaloosa , al, agape care group home office ,.

Jonesboro , LA

Hilton head , sc.

Hammond , LA

Rainbow city , al, gardendale , al, oklahoma city , ok, chesapeake , va, hinesville , ga, gainesville , ga, waycross , ga, warner robins , ga, vidalia , ga, valdosta , ga, sugar hill , ga, savannah , ga, newnan , ga, milledgeville , ga, dublin , ga, columbus , ga, cartersville , ga, brunswick , ga, bainbridge , ga, augusta , ga, athens , ga, albany , ga, secu in-patient unit , sc.

Upstate Community Hospice House , SC

Lowcountry community hospice house , sc, lexington community hospice house , sc, sumter area , sc, spartanburg area , sc, rock hill area , sc, myrtle beach area , sc, lancaster area , sc, greenwood area , sc, greenville area , sc, florence area , sc, dillon area , sc, columbia area , sc, clemson area , sc, charleston area , sc, forest city & columbus area , nc, beaufort area , sc, aiken area , sc, houma area , la, birmingham area , al, acg hospice, agape care group home office, agape care south carolina, georgia hospice care, hospice of the carolina foothills, journey hospice louisiana, not seeing your area on the map please call us to see if one of our preferred care partners serves your community..

• Featured News

Addressing Disparities in Hospice and Palliative Care Access for Rural Americans

Americans living in rural areas often lack access to needed medical services, due to...

Benefits of Hospice Care for Your Patients

It’s never easy to make the determination that a patient is nearing the end of...

Hospice and Palliative Care Eligibility Guidelines

Hospice and palliative care are both intended to improve a patient’s quality of...

Follow Us on Social

#caringtogether.

@Journey HospiceCareGroup

Hospice Care Month

JourneyCare’s Hospice Care Centers

Read about our carecenters below and take a virtual tour.

Staffed by a team of highly skilled physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers and volunteers, each CareCenter is spacious, feels like home, and designed to treat the mind, body and spirit . Family, friends and even pets are encouraged to visit anytime, for as long as you like. We want patients and families to do what is comfortable for them.

Take a virtual tour by playing one of the videos found on this page, or tour our facilities for yourself by calling ahead: 1-844-6-JOURNEY (844-656-8763). Please note: Due to COVID-19, no more than 3 visitors are able to tour the facility and will be screened prior to entry.

Arlington Heights

The Hospice CareCenter at Northwest Community Hospital features eight private patient rooms for hospice patients as well as other amenities to support their families. The CareCenter is located on the 9E level at Northwest Community Hospital. See photos.

The Pepper Family Hospice CareCenter in Barrington is a 16 bed facility nestled in a beautifully wooded area. This home-like hospice CareCenter is just off Highway 14, adjacent to Citizen’s Park and Cuba Marsh– with picnic and play areas and miles of walking paths. See photos.

The Ada F. Addington Hospice CareCenter is a partnership between JourneyCare and Rush University Medical Center and was the first inpatient hospice unit in Chicago. Located on the fifth floor of the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center at Rush University Medical Center, the CareCenter has 13 private patient suites with a dedicated hospice staff committed to providing expert, interdisciplinary care to make every patient feel at home. See photos.

Take a Virtual Tour

Barrington hospice carecenter.