Author Archives: Marissa Abruzzini (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)




“Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.”

- Ernest Hemingway
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Studies Show Differences in Quality of Palliative Care

Black patients and patients with organ failure report poor levels of palliative care

Palliative care is designed to provide comfort to people who have terminal illnesses. Yet multiple studies show that not all patients receive the same quality of care. In one study of Veterans Administration hospitals, black patients were less likely than white patients … Continue reading

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“The Good Death” by Ann Neumann

A journalist questions our laws and attitudes about end of life care

After Ann Neumann’s father died following a long illness, she felt lost. For more than a year, she traveled from city to city across the globe looking to fill the massive crater that her father’s death left. When she returned to the … Continue reading

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Our Weekly Tip: Make a Last Letter to Your Loved Ones

Write your letter as you plan the rest of your will

Our Tip of the Week: Writing a will can feel impersonal and even mechanical. After you’ve assigned beneficiaries to your estate and given your doctor end-of-life instructions, you can still feel as though you have more to say. The loose ends of … Continue reading

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Body Transportation is Less Regulated Than You Might Think

In some states, transportation of bodies only requires a driver's license

If you live in Pennsylvania or New Jersey and own a car, you could start a new career transporting bodies to funeral homes or crematoriums — all it takes is a valid driver’s license. The New York Times points out … Continue reading

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A New Law Requires Hospitals to Notify Patients of Outpatient Status

The Notice Act closes a Medicare loophole that left many families in debt

An 85-year-old woman named Elizabeth Cannon spent six and a half days in a hospital after being injured in a fall. Later, she transferred to a nursing home for five months to receive rehabilitation treatment. Cannon assumed that her hospital stay and nursing … Continue reading

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