Should We Fear Death? - Elder Care Article

By:David Snape

Death is not something that many people want to think about. However, death is a part of living a human life. At least, our current level of science and technology acknowledges that death is inevitable.

Is death something to be afraid of or is death something to look forward to? The answer may depend on who you talk to.

Aside from the obvious religious answers, what body of information exists that can help us to approach this question with some degree of logical thinking? When exacting scientific evidence is lacking, our only option is to consider the anecdotal or subjective experiences that others have had.

Fortunately, there is a body of information that leads to the formation of some interesting thoughts on the subject of death and what it is or what it might lead to. You can find this resource at near-death.com.

Each person is encouraged to draw their own conclusions. Yet, I would like to share some of my thoughts and opinions on the matter.

Many people who have a near-death experience have strikingly similar experiences. There are some who report a horrible experience but the majority report more positive experiences.

Some may have gone to a terrible place, while others seem to leave the pain of the mortal body behind and experience an interesting journey before they revive. Both kinds of experiences have been recorded.

One striking similarity is the 'life review' process. This has been reported as a review of one's entire life where each event is played out before your eyes. People that have experienced this process say that you suddenly become aware of how you affected the people you interacted with during your life.

If you did something that caused them pain, you may become cognizant of those feelings as if you were experiencing them yourself. People report that they feel regretful. The experience doesn't just extend to that one person, but the effects are like a ripple in a pond and you see how that ripple affects multiple people.

On the other hand, if you did something good you experience that as well. It does appear that the good things involve acting from compassion. For example, one lady said the most significant act of her entire life occurred when she was a little girl. She cupped a flower in her hand and gave it 'unconditional love'.

Others don't experience an in depth life review, theirs lasts a few seconds and doesn't seem to have much impact. Experiences vary someowhat. However, the fundamental similarities remain.

Can a person change as a result of a near-death experience? I was struck by the example of one person who was a self described atheist and hateful person. After his near-death experience he became a minister and a kinder, gentler soul. The change was not only noted by himself, but also by his family members.

Wouldn't it be fascinating to actually talk to a person who has had a near-death experience? I remember listening to a gentleman named Dannion Brinkley talk about his NDEs (near death experiences). He actually had more than one in his life due to an unfortunate propensity to attract lightning. I found his insights to be very interesting.

If you want to read more about NDEs, visit near-death.com Although it is hard to classify the information there as anything more than subjective, there is a large body of recorded experiences there. Perhaps it will provide you with more insight as to whether death should be feared or not.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: death, dying, life review, life after death, life

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Dave Snape is a health, fitness and wellness enthusiast. He writes for ToBeInformed.com

Top Elder Care Articles
1). The Benefits Of Continuing Care Retirement Community By : Henry Clark People nowadays have already realized the importance of saving for the future, especially for their retirement. This is because when they reach their retirement age, all they have to do is to relax and enjoy life together with the financial benefits that they themselves have tried to save little by little. That is why, when it comes to retirement and the benefits that can be derived from it, people should take the matter seriously.
2). Managing Caregiver Guilt: 5 Tips To Manage Guilt So Guilt Serves You, Not Imprisons You By : Vicki Rackner MD Guilt is a common feeling in the landscape of care giving. Guilt can propel you to be the best you can be …or it can immobilize you. For caregivers, painful feelings -- such as guilt, sadness and anger -- are like any other pain. It’s your body’s way of saying, 'Pay attention.' Just as the pain of a burned finger pulls your hand from the stove, so, too, guilt guides your actions and optimizes your health.
3). Hearing Impaired? Hearing Aids? Advice for “Deafies” and those who put up with us By : Russ Miles I have always had a hearing impairment. I was born with a 70% hearing loss in both ears. While I had a mother who was sensitive to my disability, I never believed there was anything wrong wth me. As a child, I refused to wear hearing aids. When, at 19 years-of-age, I bought one hearing aid, it was as if someone turned the sound up. I felt even more invincible.
4). Be Prepared For Assisted Living By : John Morris Assisted living is simply finding help in the form of a care giver or a family member assigned to assist an elder who with illness or diminished mental ability is no longer capable of living an independent life...
5). What's The Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia? By : Molly Shomer "What's the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's?" It's a common question, and doctors are some of the best at confusing us. Physicians seem to prefer the word "dementia," possibly because Alzheimer's has become such a loaded word. "Dementia" somehow sounds less frightening to many people, and now even the experts have started using the words interchangeably.
6). Is Exercise a Natural Sleep Aid for Seniors? By : Isabelle Boulay There are a number of reasons why exercise, particularly if performed at the right time of day, is considered the most positive sleep aid for seniors. None, however, are more significant than the fact that exercise is a completely natural form of aid. But before discussing why exercise is such a great sleep aid, it is important to examine both the definition of insomnia and the reasons that people suffer from this affliction.
7). Elder Day Care: A Novel Idea By : Jonesrck Okay, we all know how hectic life is for people nowadays. We have jobs, kids, social lives, and other things that keep us busy. People have been questioning for years the ethical argument regarding putting elderly people into nursing homes. Some people think that putting the elderly in places where they can be properly cared for is right, while others think that the abandonment of an elderly person's family just because of the complications is wrong.
8). The Differences In Elder Care Services By : Susie Drake Time marches on and so do we. Before we know it, we are older and so are our parents or loved ones. Caring for them and being sure their needs are met become a prime concern especially when they begin to not be able to care for themselves as they used to. This dilemma touches most every family. The thing to avoid is to remain under a veil of ignorance by not understanding your options and waiting until the last minute to make an abrupt and often uniformed decision.
9). Tips For Seniors By : Wade Gibson Since January, millions of seniors have enrolled in the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit plan. However, the task of choosing a plan may seem daunting and can often be confusing for seniors even after they have enrolled. The decision to participate is important, and careful consideration is vital to ensure a plan is chosen that best meets a customer's needs.
10). Adjusting To An Aging Mind By : Wade Gibson As our brains age, we're less likely to think as quickly or remember things as well as we used to. Research is now showing how the brain changes and adapts with age. You can use what we've learned and follow a few simple tips to help remember things and avoid scams. Dr. Denise C. Park, director of the Roybal Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Illinois, explains that the knowledge we gain from life experience can sometimes compensate for other changes in our brains as we age.

New Elder Care Articles
1). Special Considerations And Tips For Senior Citizens Travel By : Lee Dobbins Senior citizens are special and have special needs and considerations when traveling.
2). How to Protect Senior Citizens From Bird Flu By : Richard Stooker The elderly are especially at risk for catching bird flu, and so you must take special precautions to protect them during an influenza pandemic.
3). A Grandparent’s Guide To Choosing Age Appropriate Toys By : P. Davis According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1.3 million children are entrusted to their grandparents every day. Roles of a grandparent include spoiling and enlightening their grandkids with toys they will enjoy. After all, toys are considered to be treasures of childhood. With this role comes an added responsibility to make sure that grandchildren stay safe and enjoy a toy that is age-appropriate.
4). Managing Caregiver Guilt: 5 Tips To Manage Guilt So Guilt Serves You, Not Imprisons You By : Vicki Rackner MD Guilt is a common feeling in the landscape of care giving. Guilt can propel you to be the best you can be …or it can immobilize you. For caregivers, painful feelings -- such as guilt, sadness and anger -- are like any other pain. It’s your body’s way of saying, 'Pay attention.' Just as the pain of a burned finger pulls your hand from the stove, so, too, guilt guides your actions and optimizes your health.
5). Emergency Response Systems: My Experience By : R. Kingsley One of the best ways to protect the indepencence of an elderly parent, or parents, as the case may be, is to set them up with an emergency response system. First of all, the emergency alert system will give them the freedom of living alone because help, when needed, is only the push of a button away. I know, because my 86 year old mother slipped and fell in her bedroom just a few feet away from her phone, but could not get to it to dial for help.
6). Stair Chair Lift: A Modern Day Wonder By : Teresa Lang Have you even been to one of those historical shrines or perhaps ancient wonders where in you need to walk up more than 200 steps on the stairs, just to catch a glimpse of history? Whew! I’ve been to one. But going back is the farthest thing on my mind. In fact, had I known it was too be that exhausting, I would not have given it a time of the day. But what if you had no choice but to climb that flight of stairs…and everyday nonetheless! Alright, so maybe not the 200 steps, at least a dozen or less.
7). 9 Quick Tips To Buying A Stair Lift By : Elizabeth Longbourne Stair lifts provide more than just a means of getting from the downstairs floor of a house to the upstairs - they also represent mobility and independence to an ageing generation. As time goes by, it is only natural that we find certain everyday activities, such as climbing the stairs, becoming increasingly difficult. For someone with limited mobility due to injury, disability or chronic diseases such as arthritis and angina installing a stair lift is a low-cost common sense solution.
8). Curved Stair Lifts – An Overview By : Elizabeth Longbourne If you are looking to purchase a stair lift and are worried about getting one to fit because you have a curved, odd shaped staircase or multiple landings – dont be! Curved stair lifts are just what you need. No matter what the configuration or layout of your staircase, stair lifts can be tailor made to the size and shape of virtually any staircase easily coping with bends, straights and landings.
9). Easy Movement with Chair Lifts By : Barney Garcia Chair lifts are useful in enhancing the mobility of the people with handicaps. There are various types of chair lifts in the market, ranging from those that raise the chair to another level for stairs or vehicles to lifts that raise a person to a level that will allow them to stand. The most popular chair lifts are those that help people in wheelchairs get up the stairs.
10). Are you or your elderly parents moving to an Apartment from a house? Here's Help By : Karin Ahrman So you're moving to an apartment, what do you do with all your favorite things you can't live without? Are your parents elderly and you're downsizing them? Sure you can't take everything, but you probably can manage your/their most valued pieces. Admit it. We all have items that are precious to us and must be in the interior of our homes to make it home! Lets say Grandmas "chamber pot".