THE '22 TIMES

I come from a society that strongly believes in the proverb when two carry, it does not hurt . The strongest and most basic unit in the African society is the family. Family is our strength and our pride, it is our link to the past and a bridge to the future. The family unit is the rock that stays steady, it is the glue that binds and keeps individuals together. It is an institution that works! Due to the value the Ghanaian society places on the family, its role with regard to supportive care cannot be underestimated especially in the event of chronic illness. Chronic illnesses generally do not fix themselves and usually have no cure. For instance, heart disease and stroke can be life-threatening and may result in physical impairment requiring long-term lifestyle changes and intensive management. Families therefore, provide instrumental support such as transportation to the hospital, paying bills and assistance with the daily needs that are associated with the diagnosis (Given, 200...

Impending death is a subject that most of us dread and are unwilling to face; but death is a reality, a universal concept. We all have to confront death at some point in our lives; either that of a loved one or our own. It is therefore important for us to understand death and the processes that lead up to it. Some questions that we should consider include: What happens as the body drifts towards total shutdown? What signs are observed in the time preceding death? What would we see when a person dies? The Circulatory System             As death approaches, blood flow begins to slow. By way of compensation, the body begins to shunt blood towards the vital organs. The extremities i.e. the hands, arms and feet become cool to touch due to the decreasing blood flow to these areas. Mottling and pooling of blood is also noticeable on the underside of the body and appears much like a bruising ( “The Process of Dying”, n.d.). Blood pressure also...