Oh my goodness, I just read a discussion thread I have to share with you.

A friend of mine, Lori Eber, posted the original question on a LinkedIn discussion group: "What do you think of the concept of 'End of Life' cards?"

Apparently people are good at sending "Get Well Soon" cards, but many people don't know what to do when the cards' intended recipient gives up the fight and enters hospice.

According to Lori, a woman who faced this when her husband died, has been lobbying the Hallmark company to develop a line of cards specifically for hospice patients.

I know that a few years ago when one of my neighbors went into a hospice program, I wanted to say something to her, but, as we had actually never spoken over the couple of years we had lived near each other, I didn't know what to say.

She was said to be a lovely woman, but terribly shy. I believed she had left flowers on my doorstep when we moved in, but had not rung the doorbell or knocked.

I only knew what I did because she was the mother-in-law of a business associate, and I would see that family come to visit, at which time we would all wave at each other...

So I faced a dilemma when I heard she was near death. In the end, I waited until I knew the business associate was there to answer the door, then talked over to the house, knocked on the door and delivered them an "easy to warm" meal.

These days, the (now-deceased) woman's husband waves at me when we see each other, but nothing else has changed. We still don't ever talk.

I suppose this is a case where I could have sent a hospice card, but I'm curious what others think. So please share your thoughts!

By the way, the entire discussion thread from LinkedIn is here

I agree with Marcia B. I don't like the idea. Not everybody believes in Heaven. And the end of life would beyond difficult without faith in the Hereafter.

I'm open to the idea -- at least the idea that people should try to say *something* at this time. We all feel awkward, of course, but a simple "Thinking of You and wishing you peace" is at least a greeting. They can be religious for religious friends and more general for other friends.

As it is, some people don't have any trouble announcing to a bereaved wisow that 'He's in a Better Place,' which has always struck me as amazingly insensitive if you don't know the person well.

You know, we're getting older and a lot of folks will be in hospice care. This might be a growing business.....