@nealkshah: There is one word hospice workers hear again and again as a person nears the end, and it stays with them: "mom." Dr. Christopher Kerr, who studied more than 1,000 dying patients at Hospice Buffalo, found that end-of-life dreams and visions are nearly universal, feel vivid and real, and usually bring deep comfort, and among the faces people reach for, a mother appears strikingly often, even in patients in their 90s whose mothers died decades ago. One explanation is that the oldest parts of the brain fade last, so the mind reaches back to its earliest source of safety and love. For families, this understanding changes everything. If your loved one begins calling for their mother or reaching toward someone you cannot see, they are likely not confused but gently transitioning. The kindest response is not to correct them but to reassure, saying something like "I'm so glad she's here with you." And if you are the one at the bedside, know that you are doing sacred work. Follow for more on caregiving and end of life, and share this so someone else won't face this moment unprepared. #Hospice #Caregiving

Neal K. Shah, NIH-PI, CareYaya

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Sunday 30 August 2026 19:00:00 GMT