Having a bucket list and crossing things off is a great privilege denied to many people. All too often, there are stories like this: “We were going to travel the country. We saved and planned, bought the RV, and my wife got cancer.”
Because you never know what the future holds, it’s important to do what you’re saving for someday as soon as possible. Tomorrow and even the rest of today are not promised.
Facing the Unexpected
What if you received test results from your doctor that you have an incurable illness that would cause you to pass away in six months? What trips would you take, what conversations would you have, and what things would you want your family to know? Would you worry about how they would get by? Do you envision your final days at home, in a hospital, or in a residential care setting?
These are the “what ifs” no one wants to consider. If you faced this situation, where would you turn for help? Some might reach out to their religious leaders, others find therapists, and some also find solace through hospice.
Exploring hospice is complicated. People may avoid it because they wish they didn’t need it or may not fully believe it’s necessary. Another possible reason people shy away is that they may not realize that they don’t have to be actively dying to enroll. Because of the many myths surrounding hospice, the median enrollment is around three weeks or less.
When it’s possible to qualify for hospice sooner, emotional support is available to help ease the situation. When doctors can’t do anything more, and there are no more trial treatments or cures, hospice can help patients and their families have emotional and spiritual support.
Hospice Offers Physical and Emotional Comfort
Hospice teams include medical doctors, nurses, chaplains, social services staff, and volunteers. Your team can help you better understand your condition and how to live each day of your last chapter as YOU wish. Families can also greatly benefit from hospice support.
Hospice teams help their patients feel heard and have their wishes honored. Staff can also help patients communicate their wishes to their families.
Patients and their families can receive guidance about illness and the dying process. This includes gaining an understanding of what a peaceful passing can look like. Dying itself doesn’t typically cause pain, but symptoms of the disease do, and that’s what hospice nurses help patients to control.
Aside from pain management, hospice patients can also have medication to reduce the anxiety they may face about dying. Contrary to what many may think, hospice doesn’t overmedicate their patients. Nurses can offer pain management but also focus on quality of life, including helping each patient be alert.
Improving Quality of Life
Without hospice, patients might spend their final months, weeks, or days in and out of the hospital trying to manage the symptoms of their condition. Ambulances, emergency departments, and hospitals are meant to help people get better.
When a cure is not possible, why wait to have symptoms managed in those settings if there’s a more comfortable place to be? Hospice brings care, support, and medication wherever patients call home, whether in a private residence or a senior living community.
Family Support
While bereavement support for families is optional, hospice can offer it for up to 13 months following a patient’s passing. They do this because just like lasts are hard, so are firsts. First anniversaries, holidays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and birthdays can be emotionally challenging to manage. Staff typically reach out to check in and offer added support or even to be a listening ear during these occasions.
Hospice services are often funded through Medicare or Medicaid, private insurance, and private pay. If you’re considering hospice for yourself or a loved one, please get in touch with us at CaringEdge today by emailing us at info@caringedge.com. We can complete an assessment to help you navigate the enrollment process.
When the unthinkable happens, where do you turn? If you, your spouse, mom, dad, or loved one got the devastating news that they have six months (or less) to live, where would you find comfort?
It’s Spiritual Care Week. We get to honor the patient, calm, and eternally supportive chaplains who are there for us when it feels like our world has fallen apart. They show up with open hearts to hear us and be present with us in our grief. Day, night, and all hours in between, chaplains are there in some of our most desperate times of need.
Trying to manage Earth-shattering news that’s accompanied by an illness like cancer, heart disease, or other end-stage diseases can have a ripple effect. First, it hits the person diagnosed. Additionally, the grief of the illness hits everyone they love.
There are varying ways that people manage complex emotions, such as grief or anticipatory grief. Without proper support, life-limiting diseases can wreak havoc on emotions and, sometimes, behaviors. When there’s no other way, and there’s pain, fear, and devastation, hospice can help. Hospice is not only meant for the patient, but it can offer hope, comfort, and peace to families as well.
The Role of Hospice
Hospice is meant to provide pain control and comfort for the patient while offering emotional support for the patient and their family. Through hospice, patients are given control over the way they’d like to spend their last days.
Hospice tends to be underutilized but can add much comfort during an uncertain time. When we get devastating news, we all hope for a miracle. Sometimes, folks end up in denial while they wait for that miracle, which can be one reason they turn away from accepting helpful support from hospice.
A common goal for hospice patients is not to be alone when they pass. A team approach to care can be very comforting. When multiple advocates are helping a patient with the same goal in mind, it can reduce the anxiety surrounding their final days.
The Hospice Team
Each hospice team includes a medical director who approves the care plan and orders medications to manage pain, anxiety, and other symptoms. Registered nurses work with the medical directors to ensure each patient receives the support they need. Nurses can be on call 24/7 for hospice patients and their families.
A social worker is another crucial part of the team. They can offer patient counseling and, if the family has financial needs, help them access community services.
Nurse’s aides help with patient-focused care and companionship. Hospice may also include volunteers who can be present to give families a break or for added comfort. Volunteers can read books, do light housekeeping, run errands, play cards, give manicures and pedicures, or even help patients write important letters or cards.
Last but not least, each hospice team has chaplains who offer spiritual support and may assist with planning memorial and funeral arrangements. Chaplains can help patients and their families.
About Chaplain Services
Chaplains honor a patient’s spiritual beliefs, preferences, and practices. They will participate in prayer, scripture, song, and any other coordination with their preferred church/organization to ensure that each patient has a spiritual support community for themselves and their families.
Services provided by a hospice chaplain can sometimes be declined due to misconceptions about the chaplain’s true purpose on the hospice team. It’s important for families and patients to at least meet with the chaplain before they decline. A meeting can be a great time to ask questions about their role instead of relying on preconceived notions.
Here are some reasons that patients and their families may decline chaplain services:
Patients/families think they need to already be part of an organized religion to meet with the chaplain.
They can’t see a chaplain of another religious affiliation.
Seeing a chaplain forces you to join a church/choose a religious ideology.
Chaplain services cost more.
Services from chaplains are only for the very end of life.
Having all hands on deck, including spiritual support, during a hospice journey can help significantly. According to an article from the National Library of Medicine, added support from a chaplain may even reduce pain!
Spirituality and religion are different concepts. Hospice chaplains help patients with the emotional impact that comes from facing death, whether their patients have a religious belief or not.
Connect with us at CaringEdge if you or a loved one need hospice support or if you’d like to learn more at info@caringedge.com.
Former President Jimmy Carter has now been in hospice for a year. This is remarkable news because of the many myths surrounding what hospice can do for those who need it.
The average enrollment for hospice patients is around three months, with the median being just 18 days, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, or NHPCO. Former President Carter’s experience is certainly outside the norm, and it should highlight the program’s unexpected possibilities.
We might often associate famous people and celebrities with various marketable services, products, and charity organizations. It’s exciting to think about Matthew convincing us to buy a Lincoln, but when it comes to a service like hospice, it doesn’t matter who uses it; no one wants it. Most people don’t even want to know about it.
Because hospice holds such a stigma, most of us forgo learning about it until it hits home for ourselves or someone we love. For those living with conditions like heart disease, lung disease, dementia, and stroke, a definitive idea of how long you might have to live and how you will feel is unknown.
Those common diagnoses could qualify someone for hospice care. Hospice care can help people live more meaningful and comfortable days at the end of their lives, but if no one wants to learn about it, the less and less it will be used.
Who Wants to Know?
Many of us scroll over stories and avoid movies where the beloved leading character dies in the end—especially if the character is a beloved pooch! Just like we don’t willingly go out and subject ourselves to a touching story of a dog passing away, we also don’t sign up voluntarily to learn about hospice.
Hospice is a Medicare benefit. We pay into Medicare throughout our working years, and if we need a mobility device or other benefit, we don’t usually bat an eye. However, many don’t often use the support available from hospice because it’s such a loaded word.
The idea that we need to say goodbye, receive proper care and pain management, and make sure our families will be ok feels like looking up to a mountaintop. It’s simply a lot to fathom. Even if we’re diagnosed with a terminal condition, it might be hard to want to learn about hospice, too.
Hospice can be such a fantastic support. If someone is given a bleak prognosis that they never hoped to hear, and things are spinning out of control, hospice can allow patients to have some control.
What are the Goals of Hospice?
To keep patients pain-free but alert
To ensure patients can choose how they wish to pass (e.g., surrounded by loved ones, with music, pets, and favorite things nearby).
To provide support for the patient AND their family/loved ones (hospice will assist loved ones with bereavement support and resources for up to 13 months after a patient passes away
We’ve reviewed hospice myths many times to help people better understand what it can do; however, it’s still underutilized. We’re working to raise awareness about it early before it’s needed or earlier during an illness so that people can consider their options when it feels like there are none.
How Long Can Someone Qualify?
There is no simple answer to this, but we want to spread the word so folks use hospice sooner because the median hospice enrollment is around three weeks. CaringEdge once served a patient in their hospice program for over eight years!
To qualify, a prognosis of passing away within six months or less is required for enrollment. Physicians determine who qualifies to enroll based on the regulations, and they will re-evaluate someone’s condition every six months to decide whether they still qualify.
It’s possible to qualify for hospice for years, and on some rare occasions, people improve and no longer qualify for the program for certain periods. Patients can also choose to discontinue hospice if a new treatment becomes available or if they wish to continue treating their illness.
What Can Hospice Staff Teach Us?
Hospice teams understand the importance of having quality days at the end of life. When the uncertainty causes anxiety and fear, hospice staff can make each day the best it can be. Through volunteers, medications, and talking, they can help ease the anxiety that comes with a terminal illness.
Those working in hospice have been through the dying process repeatedly, and they can bring their expert-level patience and consideration right where it’s needed. Not only can they educate patients on the process, but they can also educate loved ones who may be about to navigate a significant loss for the first time.
Hospice teams can also offer peace of mind that once a patient passes away, their loved ones will have access to resources and support. Sometimes, that’s exactly what a patient needs to calm their anxiety at the end of their illness.
At CaringEdge Health Services, we understand the importance of seamless transitions of care for seniors. Many seniors struggle with transitions due to their age and may end up feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty understanding a given care transition. They may also lack the motivation to make necessary changes. It is our mission to ensure that seniors have a successful transition to a new level of care, with minimal disruption of their routine.
Laying the Groundwork for Care Transitions
Planning is a critical part of successful care transitions for seniors. From the beginning, it’s important to decide what kind of care is needed and determine what type of provider is best suited to meet these needs. We work closely with our clients and their family members to develop a personalized plan for care that includes everything from medications and follow-up appointments to transportation arrangements and activity schedules. Once the plan is in place, it’s important to provide the senior with an understanding of their role in the process. This includes providing them with the education and resources they need to ensure a successful transition. We provide our clients with personalized instruction on how to effectively manage their health and ensure that they fully understand their care plan and the expectations that must be met.
Optimizing Transitions of Care
We do everything we can to ensure that our clients’ care transition is successful. This includes providing the necessary information to physicians, specialist, and other providers. We also arrange for family members to be present at meetings to ensure that they understand any changes to their loved one’s care plan. Additionally, we ensure that all our clients have the resources they need to successfully complete their transition of care. This may include providing transportation to and from appointments, helping to develop a healthy routine, organizing medications and supplies, and coordinating follow-up visits.
The Benefits of Care Transitions
Successful transitions of care can make a tremendous difference for seniors. Not only can it help to reduce stress and improve the quality of care, but it can also provide seniors with a greater sense of control over their own healthcare. Many seniors find that their transitions of care have resulted in improved quality of life and increased independence. At CaringEdge Health Services, we prioritize providing our clients with a successful and seamless transition of care. From forming a personalized plan to providing necessary resources and support, we strive to ensure that our clients’ transitions of care are successful and beneficial.
Case management is an important part of the coordination and maintenance of care for those who are either living with or have been diagnosed with a serious or chronic illness. A case manager provides a thorough assessment of an individual’s health care needs and coordinates the delivery of service and resources to promote the most effective and least restrictive care.
The case manager provides an assessment of an individual’s present and foreseeable needs, and works collaboratively with various other disciplines in the management and coordination of care. This might mean providing patient education and support, helping arrange for long-term care when needed, linking the individual to community resources, tracking test results or other vital information, and managing medication. The goal of case management is to ensure that quality, cost-effective outcomes are realized.
When case management is effective, it can be a resource to both the patient and their healthcare team. In terms of care coordination, it can ensure that the patient’s care plan is both comprehensive and coordinated across multiple providers, particularly when the patient is referred to specialists or other community resources. Moreover, research has demonstrated that coordinated care has the potential to reduce unnecessary medical costs and improve health outcomes.
The role of case managers is also to connect patients and their families with particular resources that make their care more convenient as well as provide support for a more collaborative approach between providers. For example, case managers can provide assistance in finding transportation to appointments, assist with short-term meals and lodging, and connect individuals to support services such as counseling, technical assistance, and physical and occupational therapy.
Case management also has the potential to improve healthcare quality. By providing the right information to the right people at the right time, case managers can ensure that necessary preventive interventions take place and any related risks are monitored, thus preventing potentially serious complications. Case management can also provide the necessary tools and guidance to manage complex conditions, giving patients the resources and support they need to improve health outcomes and quality of life.
Case management is a vital role in ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of quality care. It helps ensure that patients are connected to necessary resources and services and that all providers are working together to achieve the most successful outcomes. It also gives patients the ability to confidently and effectively manage their own health and wellbeing.
Conclusion
Case Managers play a vital role in the healthcare system. By providing assessments, coordination of care, and assistance with connecting patients to the right resources, case managers help ensure quality care is received and that patients are empowered and well informed with regards to their own health and wellbeing.
CaringEdge Home Health and Hospice in Bismarck, North Dakota, has been a topic of conversation on KFYR TV’s North Dakota Today, highlighting its exceptional services in home health and hospice care. This feature spotlights the compassionate work spearheaded by Torie Lenhardt, Director of Home Health, and Jenalee Mollman, Director of Hospice. Here, we delve into the insights they shared about these vital services, who can benefit from them, and how their primary goal remains to provide care in the comfort of home, thereby reducing hospital visits.
Understanding Home Health and Hospice Services
Home Health Care: A Closer Look
Home health care is a broad term encompassing a range of health and social services delivered in a patient’s home. It is ideally suited for patients recovering from an illness or surgery, those needing assistance with chronic health issues, or individuals requiring therapeutic and nursing care. Torie Lenhardt, in her discussion, emphasized the personalized approach CaringEdge takes in crafting home health plans that cater to each individual’s needs. Torie highlights the multiple disciplines offered by CaringEdge, including, Skilled Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Home Health Aides.
Hospice Care: Compassionate End-of-Life Care
Hospice care, as explained by Jenalee Mollman, is specialized care designed to provide comfort and support to individuals in the final phase of a terminal illness. The focus here is not on cure but on ensuring quality of life, dignity, and comfort. Hospice care involves a multidisciplinary team approach, including physicians, nurses, social workers, and spiritual advisors, all working together to provide holistic care.
Who Can Benefit from These Services?
Eligibility for Home Health Care
Home health services are for those who find it challenging to leave home due to illness or disability. It is an effective option for post-surgery patients, those with chronic illnesses like heart failure or diabetes, and seniors needing assistance with daily activities.
Hospice Care Candidates
Hospice care is for individuals diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, having a prognosis of six months or less if the disease runs its usual course. It’s about caring, not curing, and provides support for both the patient and their family.
Goals and Benefits of Home-Based Care
Keeping Patients Out of the Hospital
One of the primary objectives of CaringEdge is to reduce the frequency of hospital visits for patients. By providing comprehensive care at home, CaringEdge aims to manage symptoms effectively, prevent complications, and improve the overall quality of life for patients.
Personalized Care in the Comfort of Home
Both home health and hospice services offer the advantage of personalized care tailored to individual needs, all within the familiar and comfortable setting of one’s home. This approach not only fosters a sense of independence and dignity for patients but also allows families to be closely involved in the care process.
CaringEdge’s Commitment to Excellence
Expert Team and Holistic Approach
CaringEdge stands out for its team of highly skilled professionals who adopt a holistic approach to care. This means addressing not just the physical needs of patients but also their emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
Continuous Support and Education
In addition to providing care, CaringEdge is dedicated to educating families and caregivers, ensuring they have the knowledge and support needed to care for their loved ones effectively.
Conclusion
The feature on KFYR TV’s North Dakota Today has rightly highlighted the essential services provided by CaringEdge Home Health and Hospice in Bismarck. With a team led by experts like Torie Lenhardt, Jenalee Mollman and Janessa Vogel, CaringEdge continues to be a pillar of support and compassion for those in need of home health and hospice care. Their dedication to keeping patients comfortable in their homes and out of hospitals is not just a service; it’s a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families during challenging times.
For more information about CaringEdge Home Health and Hospice services in Bismarck, please visit our website or contact us directly. Our team is ready to answer any questions and guide you through the process of getting the care you or your loved ones need.
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