Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Life-Threatening Condition for Hospice Patients
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The purpose of this article is to provide you with some information and guidance about AAAs and how they can be managed in hospice patients.
Read MoreAbdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Life-Threatening Condition for Hospice PatientsUnderstanding the Patient’s Question: When Will I Die?
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Navigating the tender journey of hospice care, Compassion Crossing offers guidance on addressing the pivotal question of “when?”—a beacon for caregivers seeking solace and understanding in life’s final chapter.
Read MoreUnderstanding the Patient’s Question: When Will I Die?Understanding End Stage Coma: A Guide for Families
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Dealing with a loved one in end stage coma can be an emotionally challenging and overwhelming experience. As an experienced nurse with years of experience, I understand the importance of providing compassionate care and support during this difficult journey. In this article, we will explore what to expect during the course of the disease, changes you might see in your loved one, and essential tips for caring for them from onset until death.
Read MoreUnderstanding End Stage Coma: A Guide for FamiliesSquamous Cell Carcinoma: A Guide for Families and Caregivers
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Discover essential information about squamous cell carcinoma, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. This comprehensive guide offers valuable insights for families and caregivers, helping you navigate the challenges of supporting a loved one diagnosed with this form of skin cancer.
Read MoreSquamous Cell Carcinoma: A Guide for Families and CaregiversConsiderations of Care — Related and Unrelated Diagnoses for a Terminally ill Patient Receiving Hospice Services
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Explore the complexities of hospice care for terminally ill patients with multiple diagnoses. Learn how to distinguish between related and unrelated conditions, understand Medicare coverage, and navigate the challenges of providing comprehensive care while adhering to hospice regulations and ethical standards.
Read MoreConsiderations of Care — Related and Unrelated Diagnoses for a Terminally ill Patient Receiving Hospice ServicesCaring for Your Loved One with Dementia: Promoting Quality of Life
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Dementia gets worse over time, and as caregivers, we want to support our loved ones through every stage. In the severe stages of dementia, a person's body may begin to fail significantly. Here are seven ways to promote their quality of life during this challenging time.
Read MoreCaring for Your Loved One with Dementia: Promoting Quality of LifeCaring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Guide from Onset to End-of-Life
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Discover essential guidance for caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, from early symptoms to end-of-life care. Learn about communication strategies, safety measures, and self-care tips for caregivers. This comprehensive guide offers support and practical advice for navigating the challenges of Alzheimer's caregiving.
Read MoreCaring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Guide from Onset to End-of-LifeUnderstanding Limbic-Predominant Age-Related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE) and Caring for Your Loved One
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LATE, a newly recognized form of dementia affects memory and behavior in older adults. Learn about its symptoms, diagnosis, and how it differs from Alzheimer's. Discover practical tips for caregivers to provide compassionate support and improve the quality of life for loved ones with LATE.
Read MoreUnderstanding Limbic-Predominant Age-Related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE) and Caring for Your Loved OneIdentifying Patients Who May Benefit from Hospice Care: A Visual Observation Guide for Personal Care Facilities
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Identifying when a patient may benefit from hospice care is a critical yet often challenging task. For caregivers, including Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Medical Technicians (Med Techs), visual observation can be a powerful tool for recognizing signs that suggest a hospice referral might be appropriate.
This guide is tailored to assist caregivers in personal care facilities in identifying these signs through visual observation methods, helping provide compassionate and timely end-of-life care.
Read MoreIdentifying Patients Who May Benefit from Hospice Care: A Visual Observation Guide for Personal Care FacilitiesUnderstanding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and What to Expect: A Guide for Families
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Discover the essentials of ALS, from its symptoms and progression to treatment options and support strategies. This comprehensive guide empowers families facing an ALS diagnosis with knowledge and practical advice, helping them navigate the challenges and provide the best care for their loved ones.
Read MoreUnderstanding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and What to Expect: A Guide for FamiliesHow to Use the START/STOPP Criteria for Medication Reconciliation and Deprescribing in Hospice Care: 10 Case Studies
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If you are caring for a terminally ill patient in hospice, you know how challenging it can be to manage their medications. You want to make sure they are getting the best possible care, but you also want to avoid unnecessary or harmful drugs that may worsen their quality of life or cause adverse effects.
That’s where medication reconciliation and deprescribing come in. Medication reconciliation is the process of reviewing and updating the patient’s medication list to ensure accuracy and completeness. Deprescribing is the process of reducing or stopping medications that are no longer needed, effective, or appropriate for the patient’s condition and goals of care.
Read MoreHow to Use the START/STOPP Criteria for Medication Reconciliation and Deprescribing in Hospice Care: 10 Case StudiesHelping Your Loved One Transition to Memory Care with Compassion
Memory care admission can be a challenging journey, especially when a family member is grappling with dementia. This transition demands logistical considerations and a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological aspects. As an experienced hospice nurse, I've encountered numerous families navigating this path, and here's a guide to compassionately help your loved one with dementia transition to a memory care unit.
Read MoreHelping Your Loved One Transition to Memory Care with CompassionUnderstanding End-Stage Stroke: A Guide for Families
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Receiving news that a loved one has reached the end-stage of a stroke can be overwhelming and emotionally challenging. As an experienced hospice nurse with years of experience, I understand how crucial it is for families to have accurate information about what to expect during this journey. In this article, we will explore the changes that may occur in a loved one with end-stage stroke and how you can best care for them throughout this process.
Read MoreUnderstanding End-Stage Stroke: A Guide for FamiliesRepositioning Dementia Patients Who Have Lost Trunk Control: A Guide for Caregivers
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If you are a caregiver for someone with dementia who has lost trunk control, you may wonder how you can help them. Repositioning is one way you can help. Repositioning means moving or turning the person to a different position. It can help improve the person’s comfort, skin health, and blood flow. It can also prevent or treat pressure ulcers, contractures, falls, and infections.
In this article, we will share some tips for repositioning dementia patients who have lost trunk control. These tips are based on the latest research and best practices. We hope these tips will help you provide better care for your loved one.
Read MoreRepositioning Dementia Patients Who Have Lost Trunk Control: A Guide for CaregiversHow to Talk to Families About End-of-Life: A Guide for Hospice Nurses
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This article provides hospice nurses with practical and evidence-based strategies to discuss end-of-life care with families
Read MoreHow to Talk to Families About End-of-Life: A Guide for Hospice Nurses