Where Souls Meet: Caring for the Seriously Ill

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Summary: Where Souls Meet: Communicating with the Terminally Ill
Review: After reading this book, I was faced with the reality that everyone will have to take care of someone who is nearing death at one point in their life. Before I read this book, I researched the author and found that he had been taking care of the elderly for years and had been a care-taker to many people throughout his life. He was walking the walk. I myself have never been in a situation where I would need to guide a loved one into their final days on this earth. It was never a topic of conversation either, until I read this book that a friend recommended to me. After I read this book, I was shocked at what I had never thought about. The book teaches you how to nurture a loved one who might be coming upon their final days. It talks about situations that you would never think of that are very important in the last days of a persons life. I will have this book in my home until the day that it is time for me to pass. It is an invaluable tool that everyone can use and benefit from. I would recommend this to everyone, whether they know someone who is dying or not.

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Summary: Compassion and Understanding at it's finest
Review: As a Certified Hospice Nurse and Hospice Administrator I have access to many tools to help both staff and loved ones through the grief journey. Where Souls Meet is both compelling and insightful. From introduction to appendix this book provides each reader with guidance and support through the most difficult time most of us will experience - the loss of a loved one. As we anticipate death, like life, we are faced with many challenges and obstacles. This book offers both inspiration and suggestions to help ease the fear. Dillon writes and shares with a level of emotion and realism that will help both caregivers and professionals alike. Share this book with a friend!

Rating:
Summary: Compassion and Understanding at it's finest
Review: As a Certified Hospice Nurse and Hospice Administrator I have access to many tools to help both staff and loved ones through the grief journey. Where Souls Meet is both compelling and insightful. From introduction to appendix this book provides each reader with guidance and support through the most difficult time most of us will experience - the loss of a loved one. As we anticipate death, like life, we are faced with many challenges and obstacles. This book offers both inspiration and suggestions to help ease the fear. Dillon writes and shares with a level of emotion and realism that will help both caregivers and professionals alike. Share this book with a friend!

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Summary: An excellent book
Review: As an oncology chaplain at UCLA Medical Center, I am always looking for practical, helpful, and meaningful resources that I can use to help patients, their caregivers, and other health care professionals deal with the overwhelming challenges that serious illness can present. "Where Souls Meet" is one of the best resources I have read on this subject. It serves as a deeply moving and personal guide that will lead the reader through the journey that all of us, in one way or another, will someday travel.

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Summary: AWESOME AND INSPIRING
Review: AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE CAN FEEL THERE IS NO HOPE, COMES A BEAUTIFUL RAY OF SUNSHINE. DILLON'S INSITE AND DIRECTION IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. AS A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, THIS BOOK HAS PUT NEW INSPIRATION INTO MY JOB. I HAVE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND INSITE INTO HOW TO HELP OUR VOLUNTEERS, OUR PATIENT'S AND FAMILIES DEAL WITH THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME OF THEIR LIFE. HAVING LOST CLOSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS PERSONALLY, WHERE SOLES MEET HAS HELPED ME RESOLVE PERSONAL ISSUES AND HAS GIVEN ME A PEACE IN MY HEART I HAVE NOT HAD BEFORE. I PLAN TO INCORPORATE THIS BOOK INTO OUR TRAINING CLASSES AND HAVE COPIES AVAILABLE FOR OUR PATIENTS. I HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF MEETING DILLON EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO HAS A CHANCE TO HEAR HIM IN CONCERT OR AT A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT TO DO SO WITHOUT HESITATION.

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Summary: Compelling
Review: Dillon writes with such sensitivity and caring. This book was very comforting and I wish it had been available when I lost a loved one. Sometimes it's hard to know what to do, what to say-- you feel lost-- this book would have helped then-- has helped me now.

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Summary: An excellent read
Review: This book offers the very information people really need at the most difficult time in their life. Talking to other people about someone dying is usually a frustrating experience - they just don't understand. This writer does, and addresses issues only someone who has been through it understands. It's a great resource and a real lifeline for the living to the dying.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent read
Review: This book offers the very information people really need at the most difficult time in their life. Talking to other people about someone dying is usually a frustrating experience - they just don't understand. This writer does, and addresses issues only someone who has been through it understands. It's a great resource and a real lifeline for the living to the dying.

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Summary: A must for care takers.
Review: This is a most excellant handbook that provides guidance and direction for family and caregivers of terminally ill people. It is the best and most thorough study that I have found on this subject. It clearly defines how to relate to a person who has been diagnosed with such an illness on the spiritual, emotional, and cognitive levels. It should be made a requirement for every hospice and healthcare worker who relates to terminally ill patients on a regular basis. Families with a terminally ill member will find the book most helpful. It will answer many of their questions and allow them to have a better informed understanding of the patient's emotional needs. It should be made available to all families who are caring for a terminally ill person. Besides focusing on our relational and vberbal behavior when relating to the terminally ill, it gives very practical suggestions. For example, appendice C gives suggestions on what to look for when hiring helpers for patient care. Appendice D has ideas and examples of how to make lists and charts for everyday monitoring.

Many times caregivers think only in terms of what they can offer the terminally ill patient. One chapter gives important lessons that the caregivers can learn from the terminally ill patient.

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Summary: incredible life tool
Review: Where Souls meet by Dillon Woods is the book I wish I had had when dealing with the death of my husband 3 years ago. There was nothing available like it at the time. EVERY baby boomer needs to have this book available as it offers such insight into the dying process and serves as a much needed guide for everything from the spiritual needs to the basic how to handle the every day process of living in the middle of dying needs. I have found several friends who have expressed their gratitude that I pressed a copy of this book into their hands as they were in the process of wringing them as they searched for a way to deal with their parents or loved ones dying. What a gift to be able to offer a guide book for troubled times.