Courtesy of Dr. Marianne Matzo

Dr. Marianne Matzo first became interested in working with the dying during her Ph.D. program, when she was exploring whether people were considering long-term care and how they would pay for it. A friend told her that she would commit suicide before entering long-term care. This statement inspired Matzo’s dissertation on the prevalence of nurse-assisted suicide, which led her to explore nursing education in end-of-life care.

Matzo, who now holds a Ph.D. in gerontology, worked as a nurse and nurse practitioner in oncology and palliative care for more than 40 years. She is currently the executive director of Everyone Dies, a nonprofit that produces educational podcasts about end of life. She also co-wrote a textbook on palliative care and recently published a children’s book about death. Matzo agreed to speak with SevenPonds about some simple ways to comfort a dying loved one.

Continue reading →