TL Board Begins Search for New CEO
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Laura Patel, MD has informed the Transitions LifeCare Board of Directors that she is resigning her position as CEO/CMO effective…
Read More“Let’s Talk Transitions” Blog
Welcome to “Let’s Talk Transitions,” Transitions LifeCare’s blog. Content on caregiving, bereavement, volunteers, and clinical findings are included. We hope you will post comments and follow us.
What Can I Donate to Transitions LifeCare?
As the holidays approach, our Transitions LifeCare staff often receive questions about what items can be donated to our organization. We…
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“When There Are No Words”
written by Anna Hicken and Hannah Tosch, Bereavement Counselors at Transitions GriefCare Grief is a natural and normal response to…
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The Yeargan Charitable Foundation Announces $1,000,000 Gift to the Transitions Kids Program
Polly Yeargan Hardie, through The Yeargan Charitable Foundation, is pleased to announce a gift of $1,000,000 to support Transitions Kids,…
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Transitions LifeCare receives a $100,000 grant from The Leon Levine Foundation!
The Leon Levine Foundation (“TLLF”) awarded Transitions LifeCare a $100,000 grant to support their mission to provide hospice and palliative…
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New Transitions LifeCare Board Members
Transitions LifeCare is thrilled to announce the addition of two new members to our Board of Directors! Dr. Susan Moore…
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View from the Doorway
Betsy Barton, Senior Associate for Learning and Research at Transitions LifeCare, authored ‘View from the Doorway’ to present her final…
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Poems: For you & here
Jacqueline Nader Kumar is a PhD student researching teachers’ experiences, relationships, retention, and burnout in K-12 schools. She has a…
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SearStone/LSC Awards $65,000 to Transitions LifeCare
Searstone/Lutheran Services Carolinas award $352,620 to Wake-area nonprofits The Searstone/Lutheran Services Carolinas Community Benefit Committee recently announced $352,620 in grants…
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The Leon Levine Foundation Matching Grant
You met the challenge! Donors to Transitions LifeCare through the 1979 Circle met and exceeded the $100,000 matching grant from…
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Have Yourself An Okay(ish) Little Holiday
If you’re not feeling in the holiday spirit this year, you’re not alone. Whether you are grieving a recent loss…
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What is Total Pain?
PAIN is the #1 fear expressed by people facing a serious, life-threatening, or terminal illness as revealed in a survey…
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Grief Gone Public
You make eye contact with your friend, whose partner recently died, across a crowded parking lot. It’s been several weeks…
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Why We All Need a Will – Today.
We don’t realize how incredibly important having an updated will is, until it’s too late. On June 1, 2021, my…
Read MoreThe Leon Levine Foundation Offers Matching Grant
Double Your Impact! Donors to the 1979 Circle will increase the financial impact of their gift through a $100,000 matching…
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Daniel’s Story
In August 2021, Amy Schatz’s father passed away while on our care in the Hospice Home. Amy was kind enough…
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How To Talk About Dying
Forrest Gump is my all-time favorite movie. It’s an emotional rollercoaster film that won the Best Picture Oscar in 1994.…
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In The Weeds
“In The Weeds” examines the messy, non-linear grief process and challenges us to lean into the pain, discomfort, and deeply…
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Dear Michael
“Dear Michael” is a poignant letter to a friend who died by suicide, addressing the intersections of mental health and…
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Poetry by Grace
Grace Dunzo, a junior in high school, enjoys painting, swimming, and playing with her dog. During her freshman year, the…
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The Four Things that Matter Most
Death is the most inevitable fact, yet like the three wise monkeys’ principle, “see no evil, hear no evil, speak…
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Transitions LifeCare receives $500,000 grant
Transitions LifeCare receives $500,000 grant from the Lonnie & Carol Poole Family Foundation to support Transitions Kids. The Lonnie &…
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One Hundred and Twenty-Six Days: The Unthinkable Journey
Derek and Holly It was early December 2018. Our family had so much to look forward to and spending the holidays together gave me…
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Linda and Howard’s story
“Sometimes the grief just hits me and knocks the wind out of me,” Linda admits. “This morning I woke up…
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Transitions LifeCare receives portion of Searstone/Lutheran Services Carolinas award
The Searstone/Lutheran Services Carolinas Community Benefit Committee recently announced $340,500 in grants to 14 organizations in Wake County. Since 2014,…
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When the “H” Word Means “Gratitude”
Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, New Year’s – the holiday season is upon us where we practice gratitude for all that is…
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Honoring Rebecca – my grief journey
Rebecca When my 18-year-old daughter died suddenly of complications from mono, I desperately wanted to do something to honor her.…
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What’s your “warm bottom” moment?
The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond and Mom at a Quail Ridge Books book signing event (Raleigh, 2017). Mom LOVED watching…
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Transitions LifeCare’s board announces CEO John Thoma’s 2022 retirement and successor
Since its founding as Hospice of Wake County in 1979, Transitions LifeCare has been blessed to care for an ever-increasing…
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Stanley’s Story
In June of 2018, Stanley Lucas heard the word “hospice” for the first time when he was surrounded by his family in a local hospital having a meeting with…
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How Limericks Soothe My Soul
We’re grateful to Leonard A. Smith for sharing his story, and a few of the limericks he’s written as a…
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Caregiver Burnout: What it is and what to do about it
Whether out of love or obligation, over 40 million North Americans keep their loved ones under their care each year,…
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Cultural Humility
Meeting people where they are, even when we’re not sure where that is When we think about going to the…
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Stephen & Ruth
Stephen’s hospice story is unique, because he’s still here to tell it. “I moved here to bury him in North…
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Don’t Forget to Call
My mother had a gift for writing poems. Through the years she would write them to share with family and…
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Working Together to Transform End-of-Life Care
Transitions LifeCare’s partnership with the CMS Innovation Center in the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM) provided a unique opportunity for…
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A Loving Tribute to Paul V. Bamford
Having battled pancreatic cancer for three years, my beloved husband of 49 years, Paul V. Bamford, was discharged from UNC…
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Aging Matters airs weekly on WPTF
Aging Matter radio show Don’t let the name fool you – “Aging Matters,” our weekly radio show that airs…
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Mama Kept Short Accounts
When at last – at the last – Mama took center stage, her flawless delivery betrayed the frequency with which…
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Six Ways for You to Save Money as a Retired Senior
Photo from https://unsplash.com Saving money is one of those tasks that is easy for some people but difficult for most.…
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Allan’s Final Days
We’re grateful for Kathleen McHenry DeRubio who shares her perspective on “peace, compassion, and respect.” Allan had been in the…
Read MoreTransitions LifeCare receives $100,000 grant from The Leon Levine Foundation
Raleigh, NC (7-28-2021): Transitions LifeCare has received a $100,000 grant from The Leon Levine Foundation to fund general support and…
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Writing Workshop: A Letter to My Loved One
On Tuesday, October 19, 6:00–8:00 p.m. via Zoom, Transitions GriefCare invites you to participate in “Writing Workshop: A Letter to…
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Comeback Fest Expected to Raise $2 Million
Comeback Fest is expected to raise $2 million for 100 local nonprofits affected by the pandemic Band Together and United Way…
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5 Practical Time Management Tips for the Caregiver
Time management is probably the most needed skill for caregivers. If you don’t have such, chances are you find it…
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10 Tips to Keep Seniors Safe at Home
Whether you have a loved one, family member, friend, or neighbor who is growing into their sunshine years, it is…
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Happy Birthday Dad!
My dad was a character with character. He was born April 15, 1915. When he shared with us that April…
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The Reality of Being a Caregiver
Pearls of Wisdom from One Caregiver to Another Assuming the role of responsibility can be very rewarding; however, there are…
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Why I Am An Organ Donor
Charlie’s stepson Anthony “Ryan” Hilliard had been shot. Following an agonizing trip to the hospital many miles from their home,…
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Caring For A Loved One: The Letter Each Caregiver Should Write
While caring for a loved one or following the death of a loved one, caregivers can create a path to…
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Six Ways Writing a Journal Helps Caregivers
Journaling as a past-time is making a comeback with advanced note-taking features on modern devices. In the past, people kept…
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The Importance of a Care Plan for an Aging Family Member
When I was an adolescent, I grew up with the impression that everything is forever. Of course, I wanted to…
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Transitions LifeCare Staff Updates
Transitions LifeCare announces two internal promotions: Christine Khandelwal, DO to vice president of education and strategic outreach and Mary Lucas,…
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Toaster Time Machine
Some things find us in the most unexpected ways. For example, I found out recently that my toaster is a…
Read MoreThe Operation
Losing a partner has been likened to losing a limb, and the phantom pain emanating from the place the limb…
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10 Myths About Aging
There are many myths and assumptions about what “aging” entails. But this process is different for everyone and there are…
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The Rhythm of Respiration
This post originally appeared in Let’s Talk Transitions in August 2017 and we think its message is as timeless and…
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How Seniors Can Benefit from Telehealth
Telehealth may have seemed like a foreign concept not so long ago. But, in the last several years, its popularity…
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How to Keep Your Calm When Dealing with the Difficulties of Aging Parents
If you are experiencing difficult behavior from your aging loved ones, you are far from alone. In a study published…
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2020 LeAP Award Winner
At a recent virtual staff meeting, Transitions LifeCare’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Laura Patel announced the winner of the LeAP…
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Virtual Funeral Arrangements: What You Need To Know
Virtual Funeral Arrangements: What you need to know The coronavirus pandemic has created many new normals for funeral services. With…
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My Dear Pre-COVID Life
Haven Parrott, Transitions LifeCare’s manager of bereavement services, wrote this letter to her Pre-COVID Life and shared at a recent…
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10 Stress-Relieving Techniques For Caregivers
Being a caregiver can take many forms. May it be an elderly parent, a disabled relative, or a child experiencing…
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Supporting a Friend Through Their Grief Journey
Supporting a friend through their grief journey looks different for each friendship and each person’s grief journey. Support might be…
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Transitions LifeCare and Guiding Lights Caregiver Support Center Merger Complete
Transitions LifeCare is pleased to announce a merger with Guiding Lights Caregiver Support Center, effective January 31, 2021. The two…
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What You Need to Know About a Career in Caregiving
The career of a professional caregiver can be very fulfilling. Oftentimes, caregiving helps us become more compassionate, confident, and gives…
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6 Children’s Books to Help You Understand Grief and Loss
Dealing with grief and loss is hard for anyone to process but especially children. To help children process their feelings…
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What Makes a Dog Suitable for Senior Citizens?
Dogs can make wonderful pets for senior citizens. Aside from reducing loneliness, caring for a dog is linked with many…
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Hospice: Sprint Versus Marathon
As I approach my one-year anniversary of the greatest job I have ever had, I’ve found myself thinking more about…
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The Holidays and Grief
Fall is in full force. A hint of winter may be in the air. The holiday season is officially upon…
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Ten Tips for Family Caregivers
This blog post originally appeared in January 2015. During National Family Caregivers Month, we honor you and hope you will…
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How to Balance Academics and Caregiving
During National Family Caregivers Month, we’re grateful to guest blogger John Ross for sharing this post written for caregivers who…
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What Happens in the Space Where Hospice and COVID-19 Meet
During National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we welcome one of our own who shares her experiences as a healthcare…
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“I did what my country asked me to do”
On Veterans Day, we honor all those who have served our country so willingly and fearlessly. This post originally appeared…
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The Season to Shop Your Virtual Gift Closet
Every year, month in and month out, she followed in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents collecting and passing…
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How to Restore Sleep After Losing Someone
Sleep can be elusive, especially during a time of grief. When we experience bereavement, it can be challenging to relax…
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Mindfulness For Stress Reduction: Body Scan
Mindfulness and meditation involve practices that help us become more aware of ourselves, our world and others while also helping…
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Traditional Caregivers Summit Goes Virtual for 2020
Transitions LifeCare, Transitions GuidingLights, Dementia Alliance of North Carolina, and Alzheimer’s Association to host virtual Summit for caregivers who seek…
Read MoreTransitions LifeCare Receives $25,000 Grant from UNC REX Healthcare
Transitions LifeCare has received a $25,000, one-year grant from UNC REX Healthcare to extend home-based palliative care to patients with…
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The Importance of Pets in Our Lives
We’ve all heard people who say that pets are “just” animals, as though somehow they’re not important in our lives.…
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Transitions LifeCare Receives $400,000 Grant from The Duke Endowment
Raleigh, NC (May 19, 2020): Transitions LifeCare has received a $400,000 grant from The Duke Endowment to establish telehealth capacity…
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How to Create Accessible Gardens
Image source: pxfuel.com The sun and garden are calling, but there are some stumbling blocks in the way. Even when…
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Ten Tips for Family Caregivers
A version of this post appeared January 21, 2015. We’ve refreshed and updated the content to offer additional support to…
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Five Touches
I had been a hospice companionship volunteer for less than two years when the coronavirus interrupted my visits with the…
Read MoreWhen a Loved One Dies
Ways to Create Memorial and Meaning When Separated During the COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed many aspects…
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To Plan or Not to Plan? That is the Question
I’m amazed how we Americans often take a significant amount of time in planning a dinner, a party, or an…
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Paying it Forward (The Gift of Advance Directives)
This blog originally appeared on nhdd.org in 2012. While some modest edits have been made, the original message still shines…
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Guilt and Regret
This post on guilt & regret was first shared in March 2015. Its content is powerful, so we’re resharing. Our…
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Learning to Accept Happiness Without Guilt
“27 Missed Calls from Mom” Image source: Pexels The most significant events often leave an indelible image in our minds.…
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Drs. Patel and Thompson Earn Fellow Status
(Dec 6, 2019) Drs. Patel and Thompson Earn Fellow Status from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Laura…
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Staff Educator Connie Montgomery Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
(Nov 22, 2019) Transitions LifeCare’s staff educator Connie Montgomery receives Lifetime Achievement Award at 2019 North Carolina Triangle Home Health…
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The Orphaned Adult
With the death of my mom, I lost my last parent. Being 32 and parentless is a punch to the gut, one that knocks you to the ground and leaves you bloodied to face the world ahead. It makes you face yourself in ways you weren’t prepared for; it forces you to look in the mirror and see who you are, maybe even for the first time.
How to Avoid Losing Sleep When You Lose a Loved One
The loss of a loved one can have a multitude of negative effects on your life. If the loss of a loved one is keeping you up at night, take a look at this list of ideas for improving your sleep. Hopefully at least one will offer some respite.
Things I Wish I Knew as a Caregiver
You can never be fully prepared to take on the role of a caregiver. Whether it is caring for an elderly adult in your life or a child with special…
Tips for Helping Kids Transition Back to School after a Death Has Occurred
This post originally appeared on August 22, 2018. We’ve updated dates for our child and teen grief offerings found at the end of this post. It’s typical for parents and…
Pet Therapy Volunteer “Maggie”
Being a pet therapy volunteer has been an experience like no other. Maggie is a calm and lazy girl who makes a perfect therapy dog. She has visited dozens of…
How to Prepare Your Home for a Senior Loved One on a Budget
Preparing your home to make room for a senior loved one to move in is often a big process that requires a lot of time and energy, so it’s important…
How to Be an Effective Caregiver
It only took one diagnosis for my life to be completely altered. The first time I heard that my father was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy I knew immediately that…
Paying Homage to My Dad on Father’s Day
I was 10 when Dances with Wolves came out. I thought it was a beautiful film, but all my family took from it was the humor in nicknaming people after their…
Sound Advice for Covering the Costs of Alzheimer’s Care
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, gradually eroding both the mind and body of those suffering with the condition. That means people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s often need assistance for an extended…
Best Ways to Stay Happy and Healthy as You Age
Taking care of yourself is a continuously evolving strategy—there’s no right way to do it. Your needs change over time so it’s natural to adjust the way you stay happy and…
Let Me Tell You Who I Am Now
I am still a person like you, with a life like yours, yet not. I am still a mother like you, yet not at all like you, all at the…
Why I gave up my manufacturing industry career to work in home-based care
Sixteen years ago, I lost someone very close to me, a man who was like a father. When he was diagnosed with cancer, his disease was so advanced doctors couldn’t…
Managing Sleep While Grieving
Losing a loved one can take a large toll on your emotional well-being. It’s very common to experience many challenges going through daily life activities while you’re in a period…
Chiropractic Adjustments and Lowered Blood Pressure
If you are looking for a way to lower your blood pressure, chiropractic adjustments may be a viable option for you. Instead of filling your body with medications loaded with…
Reuse, Repair, Reimagine, Reclaim
While on a recent vacation, I walked past a thrift store with the words, “Reuse, Repair, Reimagine, Reclaim It!” emblazoned across the outer walls of the building. I was so…
An Angel Grew Wings
As Transitions LifeCare recognizes 40 years of service to our community, we reached out to staff for their memories through the years. #TLturns40 In 1985 my beloved Grandfather was diagnosed…
Your Guide to Paying for Alzheimer’s Disease Care
No matter how prepared you may think you are, long-term care and end-of-life care require a massive investment of money that may be spread out over months or even years….
Difficult Decisions: What to Do After a Terminal Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with a terminal illness changes everything in an instant. Priorities immediately shift, questions about insurance and your estate arise, and final dispositions must be made for end-of-life care…
What You May Not Know About Mesothelioma
Healthy Lung Month, observed each October, reminds us how important our lung health is and how lung diseases affect millions of Americans. For those with mesothelioma, October means something extra…
“Give me the words, and show me what I need to do.”
On the day Avery Neill died, Shelly Wenzel helped Emily Neill wrap the girl in a blanket. She held Avery and Emily for a long time. “I want you to…
Paying for Long-Term Care When Living Alone Isn’t an Option
Realizing it’s no longer safe to live independently is one of the hardest parts of growing older. It’s even harder if you can’t afford to pay for the care…
COMPASSION = COMmunicate + PASSION
TL staff recently had the privilege to hear from the husband of a hospice patient we served a few years ago. Many thanks to Don W. for his kind words…
Tips for Helping Kids Transition Back to School after a Death Has Occurred
It’s typical for parents and caregivers to feel apprehension about kids heading back to school after they’ve experienced the death of someone they love. After all, the lazy days of…
“Nothing is guaranteed”
“Nothing is guaranteed.” Kelly said it, and she believes it with all her heart. But what Kelly does with this belief is pretty amazing. Since a diagnosis of stage 1B1…
“I did what my country asked me to do”
Master Sergeant John Y., United States Marine Corps veteran was honored on July 15, 2018, with a “We Honor Veterans” ceremony held at the American Legion Post 116 in Fuquay-Varina. Paul…
Gabby: From Feral to Family
When I started working at Transitions LifeCare (TL) I didn’t realize I’d receive far more than a paycheck. I’ve been blessed with so much more. I’ve made such wonderful friends…
Disenfranchised Grief
“Disenfranchised grief” is a term coined by Kenneth Doka in the 1980s. It refers to a loss that the griever feels unable to fully mourn because of societal views about…
Tips for Supporting Someone in Grief (repost)
#TBT to June 24, 2015 Someone you know is grieving. Perhaps it is a friend, a colleague, a family member, a spouse. Offering support to someone who has had a…
Tips for Coping with Sleeplessness
Research indicates that grief and loss can have a significant impact on sleep. Sleep is disrupted in many ways: in the struggle to fall asleep, poor sleep quality, and difficulty…
The Opioid Epidemic: A National Public Health Emergency
Background In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) declared opioid-induced deaths as a national epidemic. 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Drug overdose is now the…
A Special Night Out
It was an exciting game. The Dean E. Smith Center was a sea of Carolina blue and the men’s basketball team didn’t disappoint. Together with more than 20,000 other fans…
What No One Tells You About Grief
Grief it brings need the naked freeze caught in the frost Numb unbearable thoughts your inner need fire not lost –Tori Amos – Reindeer King (Native Invader, 2017) I lost my…
W-I-N-T-E-R: How to Honor Your Grief
Things tend to slow down in the winter. The holiday bustle wraps up in a flurry and in settles the cold, quiet calm of winter. In grief, the season can…