The end-of-life process brings us to experience a whole host of emotions, ranging from fear, to sadness, to anger, to love, to… joy? Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective to help us see the blessings hidden in difficult experiences. These books about various facets of the hospice and end-of-life experience answer questions, give us hope and peace, and comfort both hospice patients and their families along the way.

Dear Life by Dr. Rachel Clarke

This is a memoir about a palliative care doctor whose father got cancer. She recounts stories about how hospice care positively affected his end of life experience, and her wit and wisdom bring both tears and laughter to the reader.

Peaceful Passages: A Hospice Nurse’s Stories of Dying Well by Janet Wehr, R.N.

Endorsed by the President of Hospice of America, this book recounts hospice nurse Janet Wehr’s experiences helping her patients transition through their end-of-life experience. Written with the purpose of helping her readers find peace and joy, it discusses how death is part of the experience of living and isn’t something to be feared.

Farewell: Vital End-of-Life Questions with Candid Answers by Dr. Edward T. Creagan

Our society likes to pretend that death doesn’t happen, so when we are confronted with it, many times we have a wide range of questions. Dr. Creagan has compiled a huge list of questions, and answers them candidly and compassionately. This is a great book to keep by the bedside of someone in hospice- both for their sake and their caregivers’.

On Dogs and Dying: Inspirational Stories from Hospice Hounds by Michelle A. Rivera

Many dogs have a way of knowing exactly how to be sympathetic and help us feel better when we are going through trying times. Michelle, a trainer of therapy dogs, recounts beautiful stories of how dogs helped hospice patients and their families during in-facility visits. She even shares some advice on how to get your furry friend certified as a therapy dog.

Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying by Maggie Callahan and Patricia Kelley

Written by two hospice nurses, Final Gifts is a deep dive into all the various ways communication occurs in the dying. It can be especially helpful if you frequently find yourself feeling at a loss for words, or struggling to meet your loved one’s needs when they are struggling with health issues that prevent them from being able to even know what to ask for.

Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore

Bearing the Unbearable explores the profound grief experienced after the loss of a loved one, especially through traumatic death. Drawing from her own experience as a bereaved mother and decades of supporting others through grief, Dr. Joanne Cacciatore provides compassionate stories and insights to help bear the seemingly unbearable pain of loss. Organized into 52 chapters, this award-winning book serves as a poignant companion for grieving individuals, families, communities, and professionals alike. Cacciatore reveals how grief can open our hearts to deeper humanity and connection if we fully honor its mysterious, nonlinear process.