ABSTRACT

First published in 1987. Why is it so difficult to 'let go' or say 'goodbye' to those we love? Death is inevitable. We live with it everyday through others we know, through often short-lived per-ts, on TV and in the news. Yet, when it happens to us, to our parents mainly, why are we so hesitant to say 'goodbye'? Religion teaches that we go on to something so much better, yet we 'hang on' to those who are ready o leave. This book deals with these emotions. It explains that they are normal and natural. It teaches us to deal with our emotions and how to go about accepting the inevitable. In doing all this, the book also teaches us something of our morality. This is a book that belongs in everyone's family library.

part I|26 pages

Historical and Cultural Attitudes toward Death and Dying

chapter |4 pages

Fear of Death

chapter |9 pages

The Role of Religion

chapter |12 pages

Myths

part II|18 pages

Care and Treatment of Terminal Patients

chapter |8 pages

Emotional Needs of the Dying

chapter |4 pages

The Ultimate Aloneness of Dying

part III|32 pages

Patient Advocacy

chapter |3 pages

The Professional

chapter |13 pages

The Staff

chapter |6 pages

The Family

chapter |11 pages

Emotional Needs of Children

part IV|20 pages

Termination

chapter |5 pages

Learning to Say Goodbye

chapter |6 pages

When a Patient Dies

chapter |5 pages

Language as a Defense Mechanism

part V|13 pages

Changing Attitudes Towards Death and Dying

chapter |9 pages

Hospice

part VI|43 pages

Guidelines for Thanatology Program Development

chapter |3 pages

Introduction

chapter |1 pages

The Need for Thanatology Programs

chapter |2 pages

Definitions—Goals and Objectives

chapter |5 pages

General Purpose Guidelines

chapter |11 pages

Development of a Thanatology Program

chapter |8 pages

Implementing the Program

chapter |11 pages

Role Playing

chapter |4 pages

The Rights of Terminal Patients

chapter |1 pages

On Helping Each Other

chapter |3 pages

Death in the First Person

part VII|5 pages

Epilogue

chapter |3 pages

Epilogue