Understanding grief isn’t the same as easing it. I have a client whose wife died about seven months ago. Since her death, he’s felt overwhelmed. Simple tasks at home feel hard to start and finish. He tells me he knows what needs to be done, but he can’t seem to get himself to do it. There are moments when we’re talking, and I can see him start to feel overwhelmed. He’ll put his fingers to his temples, rub in small circles, and stare at the floor. Then he goes quiet. I can t

When someone you love is living with dementia, time together often starts to look different. Conversations may change, and visits may feel stressful. Many families begin to focus on the practical side of care: appointments, medication, and safety. Those things matter. They are part of caring for someone. But the relationship is still there, and there are ways to keep building that connection. One caregiver shared a moment that changed how she spent time with her mother. Her

What I Wish You Knew: A Mother’s Letter About Living With Dementia This week’s post is a little different. Instead of explaining dementia or offering advice, I wanted to share something that might help caregivers see things from another angle. The piece below is written from the point of view of a mother living with dementia. It’s a letter she might write to her daughter. Not everyone with dementia will have the same experience. But many families notice similar moments al

My parents are in their 80s and are still living independently. They exercise. They’ve got a tight circle of friends. After nearly five decades in the same house, they moved just five minutes away, into an apartment building where all their longtime friends had moved. It’s like a senior dorm. They visit each other’s apartments in their socks. It’s sweet, and honestly, kind of genius. Being an end-of-life doula, I see what happens when independence is lost. I wonder, “What wi

A practical, shame-free guide to helping loved ones stay safe When someone close to you falls for a scam, your first reaction might be disbelief. I know mine was. A family member of mine lost a significant amount of money. Not once. Twice. And like so many families, we said what most people say: They should have known better. It’s a common reaction. Scams seem obvious when you're not the one in the middle of them. But that belief, that smart people don't fall for scams, do

When Samantha Rose lost her mother to suicide, it was sudden and overwhelming. Her stepfather had died just a few months earlier from cancer, but his death was expected. Her mother’s wasn’t. It brought confusion, anger, and silence. Samantha had spent years writing other people’s stories as a ghostwriter. But this time, she started writing for herself. What began as handwritten notes turned into something more. Through writing, she found a way to process what had happened and

Some parents walk a well-worn path. There are timelines and protocols to follow. But for others, like Dr. Tasha Faruqui, the path disappears and a new trail must be cleared. Tasha is both a pediatrician and a mother. Her daughter lives with a rare, medically complex condition. And despite her medical training, Tasha quickly learned that no degree could prepare her for parenting a child whose future couldn’t be predicted, explained, or cured. Over time, she stopped trying to

Hospice - it’s a word that stops people. Especially when it involves children. It’s a concept that feels too big, too final, and too painful to say out loud. But for Dr. Tasha Faruqui, a pediatrician and mother of three, it became a lifeline amid uncertainty. Tasha’s middle child lives with a rare, medically complex condition. For years, her family searched for answers, hoping for treatment, praying for clarity. Eventually, they had to face what so many families fear: that th

Erica and John Backus shared 41 years of marriage, filled with laughter, gardening, travel, and a deep, abiding love that weathered life’s most profound challenges. When John was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the couple didn’t just brace for decline; they leaned harder into joy and a shared understanding that when the time came, John’s ending would reflect the life he lived: deliberate, dignified, and free. Their story is not just about a disease; it’s about dignity, autonomy,

Grief is a universal human experience, but when it comes to children, many adults feel at a loss for words. We want to protect them. We...

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Death with Dignity in Switzerland What would you do if your loved one told you, long before illness, that they didn’t want to suffer...

In our latest episode of "Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula," we discuss the ways history has shaped our practices...

“Thank you for making this moment a beautiful experience for us. This is the last moment we will have on this earth together. You have...

Grief is something we all face, but for those in high-stress jobs like law enforcement, it can be especially tough. In this episode of 'Comforting Closure - Conversations with a Death Doula,' host Traci Arieli sits down with Nicole Junkerman, a retired police officer who now helps people as a death doula. They discuss the unique struggles police officers face when dealing with grief and why it’s so important to support them. The Unique Challenges of Grieving in Law Enforceme

How traumatic is the death of a parent? For many, the loss is a deeply emotional and complex journey. In our latest episode of...