The series was inspired by Ms. Krieger’s 88 year old father’s expensive hospital death, an experience she describes as teaching her that: “too much drama and desperation consume our final days, lending them too little dignity.”
Selected articles from the series include:
- ‘The cost of dying: Lessons learned’
- ‘Cost of Dying: planning for a good death, from advance directive to talking with your family’
- ‘Cost of Dying: One nurse’s end-of-life choice was surprisingly simple – and liberating.’
In the final article ‘Cost of Dying: Discovering a better way for final days’ Krieger presents seven “cures “ for the cost of dying in America, including the following:
- Take charge of our deaths by putting wishes in writing
- Involve entire communities in commitment to planning
- Encourage doctors to talk more frankly about choices
- Pay doctors to help patients decide what’s best for them
- Avoid costly care that won’t prolong or improve life
- Offer better comfort care to patients in their final days
- Pay families to help at home instead of using hospitals.
A photo gallery featuring images from the series can be viewed online.
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