The Final Act of Living [Paperback]

Barbara Karnes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 2003

The author of Gone From My Sight, My Friend, I Care and A Time to Live, shares her insights and perceptions from years of working with people during the final act of living. Now her lectures and ideas have been put on paper. This book is written in a simple, direct yet gentle style as it explores the signs of approaching death from disease, the normal grieving process, living wills, Durable Power of Attorney and other end of life issues.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"The Final Act of Living" will appeal to anyone who is searching for information regarding the dying expereince. The book is being used as a resource on end-of-life issues; a volunteer hospice training handbook; a reference book for anyone working with end-of-life issues including lay ministers, social workers, counselors, nurses and chaplains; and a text book in various college and university classes.

From the Author

"If you finish this book and say to yourself, 'I hadn't thought about living and death that way before,' then my purpose for writing will have been fulfilled." Barbara Karnes

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Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: Barbara Karnes Books, Inc. (January 12, 2003)
• ISBN-10: 096216030X
• ISBN-13: 978-0962160301
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #265,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Final Act of Living, August 30, 2005

By 

Lucy Grier (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Final Act of Living (Paperback)

This book is the 101 of end of life issues. Barbara Karnes covers it all in this book. It's informative like a text book yet easy to read. I found the stages of dying very helpful along with her ideas on grieving, how men and women grieve differently. Loved her personal stories, they made a very informative book more heartfelt.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Guide to a Good Death, January 17, 2008

By 

Nancy Manahan "Ph.D." (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Final Act of Living (Paperback)

I LOVE this book! Barbara Karnes, RN, reminds us that death is not a medical event but a normal, natural social event. It doesn't have to be the ordeal most people dread. With accurate information and adequate support, dying can be a rich, rewarding family experience.

Karnes also wrote the invaluable pamphlet "Gone from My Sight," which some hospices give to families of dying patients. This more recent book includes moving stories from the author's own longtime hospice experience, descriptions of the deaths of her own parents, and much more.

This nurse provides detailed, deeply reassuring information about how we die. For example, she explains the 3 areas--food, sleep, and social interaction--that let one know whether a person has weeks, days, or hours to live. She cautions against the practice of hydrating a person near death, reminding us that dehydration is "nature's anesthetic." She also recommends against using a suction machine, since it usually irritates the throat and triggers the body to produce more secretions. There are better ways to keep a person comfortable.

Karnes sees dying as an opportunity to address any unfinished business, to live in the present, and to say goodbye. But she goes beyond the tools and attitudes that can help a patient and caregivers experience a gentle, peaceful, natural death. She also explains what to do afterwards. For example washing the body and allowing people to view the body can help the grieving process. Additionally, she discusses legal questions and stresses the importance of having an advanced health care directive.

I can't imagine anyone I'd rather have as a hospice nurse than the knowledgeable, no-nonsense, compassionate Barbara Karnes. This little book is a gem!

Nancy Manahan, Ph.D. author of Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully - A Journey with Cancer and Beyond

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars simple, easy to read and tremendously helpful, February 7, 2006

By 

Lisa Lauder - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Final Act of Living (Paperback)

i found barbaras book to be tremendously informative and helpful. it gave me knowledge and insight into a subject that i find is sadly neglected in our education.the tools and insight gained from this book have helped me feel more at ease and prepared. i am very grateful and would highly recommend it to any body who finds themselves faced with the reality of death.