Category: Advocacy
Advocacy issues in healthcare especially in the field of hospice
How End-of-Life Doula Training Creates Better Hospice Experiences for Patients and Families
End-of-life doulas are transforming hospice care quality through specialized training and collaborative partnerships. Learn how these compassionate professionals enhance patient experiences, support families, and improve hospice satisfaction scores when properly integrated into care teams.
The Hidden Reality of Dialysis: Understanding Life Support, Quality of Life, and Planning Ahead
Dialysis is a choice, not a requirement for end-stage kidney disease. While this life support treatment can extend life, it significantly impacts quality of life through fatigue, time constraints, and physical challenges. You have the right to choose comfort care and hospice instead. Learn why discussing dialysis preferences should be part of every living will and how end-of-life doulas can help navigate these important decisions.
When Fear Prevents Care: How Death Anxiety Threatens Hospice Nursing Excellence
Nursing students' fear of death significantly impacts their readiness for hospice care, affecting the quality of end-of-life services. With severe staffing shortages and insufficient mentorship, new nurses enter hospice unprepared. End-of-life doula education through programs like IDLM provides crucial solutions.
When Death Comes Unexpectedly: Why Being Prepared Matters More Than Ever
Every year, thousands die in emergency departments unprepared for death. Sudden death in hospitals can be especially shocking for patients and families who haven't planned ahead. This guide highlights why preparation is important and describes how end-of-life doulas can assist.
The Adult Priority You Can’t Afford to Skip: Your Complete Advance Directive
If you're 18 or older without an advance directive, you're putting yourself and your loved ones at risk. This comprehensive guide explains why every adult—regardless of age—should prioritize creating a thorough living will reviewed every 3-6 months, and how end-of-life doulas can help.
Staying Connected Through Health Journeys: A CaringBridge Guide for Families and End-of-Life Doulas
Discover how CaringBridge helps families and end-of-life doulas stay connected during health journeys. This free platform offers privacy controls, easy updates, and community support for chronic illness, terminal illness, and life transitions.
When Family Goes Silent: Finding Help When Loved Ones Won’t Step Up
Primary caregivers often face difficult emotions of isolation when loved ones step back during a chronic or terminal illness. This article thoughtfully addresses these feelings, delves into the reasons for this distance, and provides constructive communication strategies to foster reconnection with hesitant family members. It also highlights alternative support avenues for caregivers, ensuring they feel valued and supported.
When Goodbye Isn’t Clear: Understanding and Healing from Ambiguous Loss
Ambiguous loss is a type of grief that happens when loss feels unclear or unfinished. Unlike traditional grief, this emotional pain lacks closure, making it harder to process. Learn to recognize the signs of ambiguous loss and discover practical healing strategies to help you move forward with hope.
When Love is Not Enough: Addressing the Hidden Crisis of Hospice Family Caregivers
Caring for a terminally ill loved one at home is an incredibly challenging and emotional journey for family caregivers. This guide acknowledges the struggles you may face and offers compassionate solutions. It explores valuable resources, such as end-of-life doulas, PACE programs, and professional home care services, all designed to help ease your burden and provide support during this difficult time. You are not alone in this experience; there are ways to find relief and comfort as you navigate these profound challenges.
Making Informed POLST Decisions: A Compassionate Guide for Patients, Families, and Healthcare Teams
This comprehensive guide helps patients, families, and healthcare professionals confidently navigate POLST decisions. Learn the essential steps, understand your options, and ensure your end-of-life care wishes are honored through proper planning and communication.
A Complete Guide to Hiring Caregivers for Terminally Ill Patients
Discover the essentials of hiring caregivers for terminally ill patients. This guide covers caregiver qualifications, assessing understanding of terminal care, and practical hiring tips.
Empowering Advocacy: A Guide to Addressing Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes
This comprehensive guide provides valuable insights on how to report and prevent elderly abuse in nursing homes. It serves as a resource for families, guardians, and loved ones to understand their roles and responsibilities in advocating for the elderly. Learn how to empower yourself and ensure the safety and well-being of your loved ones.
Balancing Patient Care and Compliance: The Impact of Extended Hospice Care for Dementia Patients
Explore how extended hospice care for dementia patients benefits families and saves Medicare money despite regulatory challenges around six-month prognosis rules.
Understanding Risk Reduction in Terminal Illness
This guide helps families of terminally ill patients comprehend absolute vs. relative risk reduction. It’s a resource for making educated choices about medication continuation, tapering, or cessation in collaboration with healthcare professionals.
Empowering the Unsung Heroes: A Guide to Supporting Hospice Caregivers
This article delves into the challenges faced by family caregivers in hospice and palliative care, offering practical strategies and resources to support them in their indispensable roles.
Navigating Care Plan Meetings: A Guide for Families of Terminally Ill Loved Ones
This comprehensive guide empowers families to navigate care plan meetings for terminally ill loved ones. Learn the significance of these meetings, how to prepare, communicate your loved one's needs, and advocate for their best interests. Gain insights into recognizing when meetings are necessary and the benefits of regular care planning. Equip yourself with the knowledge to ensure your loved one receives personalized, dignified care aligned with their wishes.
Choosing Compassion: The Case for Hospice Care
When a loved one is facing a serious illness, it can feel like standing at a crossroads. Each path represents a different way to care for them in their time of need. It’s a moment filled with tough choices and deep emotions. This article thoroughly explains hospice care, its philosophy, and the benefits it provides to patients and families facing terminal illness. Learn about the decision-making process, the hospice experience, and how to navigate this difficult choice with dignity and love.
The Myth of Medications and Terminal Illness: How to Cope with the Reality of Losing a Loved One
Discover the truth behind the myth that medications can keep terminally ill patients alive indefinitely. This article explores the psychological factors behind this belief and its consequences while providing compassionate strategies to cope with the reality of losing a loved one while ensuring quality end-of-life care.
Top Ten Myths About Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders
If you or your loved one has a severe illness, you may have heard about do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. This medical order tells the health care team what to do if the patient’s heart stops beating or they stop breathing. It is an incredibly crucial decision that can affect the quality and length of life. However, there are many myths and misunderstandings about DNR orders that can make it hard to choose what is best for you or your loved one. In this article, we will explain what DNR orders means and why it is important to understand it. We will also debunk the top ten myths about DNR orders and share the facts that can help you make an informed and respectful choice.
Top Ten Myths About CPR for Terminally Ill Patients
You may think that CPR is a miracle that can save anyone’s life, but that is not always the case. CPR is not practical for terminally ill patients, and it can cause more harm than good. In fact, studies show that only about 5% of terminally ill patients who receive CPR survive to leave the hospital. Many of them suffer from brain damage, broken ribs, or infections because of CPR.
This article aims to help you understand the truth about CPR for terminally ill patients. We will debunk ten common myths you may have heard or believed about CPR and provide you with accurate and reliable information. We will also help you make informed and respectful decisions about CPR for your loved one based on their wishes and values.
Hospice – Patient and Family Autonomy
Hospice care is often misunderstood. A common myth suggests that once a patient with a terminal illness enters hospice, they lose control over their care. This article aims to dispel this misconception and highlight the central role of patient and family autonomy in hospice settings. It's important to note that this discussion primarily applies to patients receiving care at home or in non-facility settings, as facility-based patients may have less control over their care decisions.
Empowering Caregivers: Effective Communication with Healthcare Providers
Discover how to use the CUS tool and Caring Feedback Model to advocate for your loved one's health. This guide empowers caregivers to communicate effectively with healthcare providers, ensuring their concerns are heard and addressed.
How to Communicate Effectively with Healthcare Professionals as a Family Member of a Patient with a Terminal Illness
Learn how to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals when caring for a loved one with a terminal illness. Improve communication, advocacy, and coping skills to ensure your loved one receives the best care possible.
Navigating the Complex World of Dementia and Seizures
This article delves into the intricate relationship between dementia and seizures, offering insights on identification, safety protocols, and advocacy for caregivers.