Tag: Hospice Care
Articles about hospice care including how to manage comfort at end of life.
Identifying Patients Who May Benefit from Hospice Care: A Visual Observation Guide for Personal Care Facilities
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.
Understanding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and What to Expect: A Guide for Families
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.
How to Use the START/STOPP Criteria for Medication Reconciliation and Deprescribing in Hospice Care: 10 Case Studies
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.
Helping 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.
Understanding End-Stage Stroke: A Guide for Families
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.
Repositioning Dementia Patients Who Have Lost Trunk Control: A Guide for Caregivers
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.
How to Talk to Families About End-of-Life: A Guide for Hospice Nurses
This article provides hospice nurses with practical and evidence-based strategies to discuss end-of-life care with families
Understanding the Importance of the PAINAD Scale in Pain Assessment for Terminally Ill Patients
The PAINAD scale is a comprehensive tool that assesses and manages pain in older adults with dementia and delirium. It focuses on observable signs of pain rather than patient self-report, making it particularly useful for individuals who cannot communicate their discomfort
Understanding Liver Disease: A Guide for Families
Having a loved one diagnosed with liver disease can be a challenging and emotional journey for both the patient and their family. As an experienced hospice nurse with years of experience in hospice care, I understand the importance of providing compassionate and informative support during this grim time. In this article, we will explore what to expect over the course of liver disease, the changes that may occur in your loved one, and how to provide the best care from onset until the end of life.
Top 30 FAQs About Hospice: Everything You Need to Know
Discover hospice care, eligibility, benefits, provider choice, costs, services, and more. Learn how hospice addresses physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs and how to prepare for and manage them. Find out about the roles of the hospice team and the primary caregiver and the signs of approaching death. Empower yourself with the knowledge to make informed decisions about compassionate end-of-life care.
Understanding Changes in Palliative Performance Scale in the Last Six Months of Life
Explore the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) and its crucial role in end-of-life care. Learn how this tool helps hospice professionals assess patient decline, predict life expectancy, and provide tailored care. Understand the significance of PPS changes in the final six months and how they guide compassionate care decisions.
Understanding End Stage Renal Disease and How to Care for Your Loved One
If your loved one has been diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure, it's natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure about what to expect during the disease. As an experienced hospice nurse with years of experience, I am here to guide you through this journey with compassion and empathy. In this article, we will cover what end-stage renal Failure is, the changes you may observe in your loved one, and how to provide the best care from onset until the end of life.
A Holistic Approach: Hospice Nursing Assessment vs. Hospital/Nursing Home Assessment
Explore the compassionate approach of hospice nursing assessments, emphasizing patient comfort and dignity over conventional hospital metrics. This article delves into the personalized care that defines hospice evaluations, ensuring a serene transition for patients and families.
Why Saying Goodbye to Your Dying Loved One Matters
Losing a loved one to a terminal illness is an incredibly challenging experience. It's a journey filled with emotions, uncertainties, and the need for profound empathy. One crucial aspect of this journey is saying goodbye to your dying loved one and permitting them to pass peacefully. In this article, we'll explore the significance of these acts, which bring comfort to the terminally ill and aid in the grieving process for those left behind. We'll also share three case studies to illustrate the importance of these actions.
The Death Visit from a Hospice Nurse
Losing a loved one is an incredibly challenging and emotional experience, and witnessing someone's final moments can be overwhelming, especially if you have never been through it before. As a hospice nurse with years of experience, I understand the importance of providing guidance and support during this time. In this article, I want to help prepare you for what to expect during the death visit and explain the role of the hospice registered nurse in the pronouncement process.
The Last Breath of Life
As a caregiver or family member, witnessing the final hour of a loved one's life can be a challenging and emotional experience. It's essential to be prepared and understand what to expect. While each person's journey is unique, some common physical changes may occur in the last hour of life. Here's a guide to help you navigate this sensitive time:
Understanding Heart Failure and What to Expect: A Guide for Families
Dealing with a loved one's heart failure can be overwhelming, but with the right knowledge and support, you can provide the best care possible. This guide aims to help families understand what heart failure is, what changes to expect in their loved one's condition, and how to provide compassionate care throughout the journey, from onset to end-of-life.
Four Case Studies About External Oxygen on Hospice
It is common for family members and caregivers who are not trained in end-of-life topics to be concerned about their loved one's oxygen concentration (SpO2 and sometimes also abbreviated SPaO2) reading from a pulse oximeter. Suppose their loved one refuses external oxygen or takes off the external oxygen. In that case, this often causes distress to the family and caregivers because they are focused on the numbers vs. the patients themselves. Hospice is about patient-centered care, and I would like to present four case studies to demonstrate how hospice manages this situation with compassion.
How to Respond to a Dementia Patient Asking About a Deceased Family Member
When a dementia patient inquiries about a family member who has passed away but still believes them to be alive, it's essential to respond with empathy and understanding. Here are some tips on how to handle such situations with compassion and sensitivity:
The Benefits of Deprescribing Medications in Hospice: A Guide for Patients, Families, and Hospice Nurses
I know how important it is to provide comfort and support during this challenging journey. One aspect of hospice care that often raises concerns is deprescribing medications. In this article, we'll explore what deprescribing is and why it can benefit patients nearing the end of life.
Significant Signs a Terminally Ill Patient may be Close to Dying
Recognizing end-of-life signs can be challenging. This guide outlines key symptoms indicating a terminally ill patient may have less than two weeks, offering crucial insights for caregivers and families.
Understanding COPD: A Guide for Families
As an experienced hospice nurse with years of experience, I understand that coping with a loved one's diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can be overwhelming and challenging. In this article, we'll explore what to expect over the course of the disease, the changes you might notice in your loved one, and how to provide the best care and support from the onset until the end.
Understanding Memory and Cognitive Testing for Dementia
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be a challenging journey, filled with complex emotions and difficult decisions. As families and caregivers, it's crucial to understand the nature of dementia and the various tools available to help assess and manage the condition. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to the seven most common memory tests used to evaluate if a person has dementia. These include the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam (SAGE), Neuropsychological evaluation, and Short Test of Mental Status. Each of these tests offers unique insights into the cognitive abilities of an individual and can be instrumental in the early detection and management of dementia. By understanding these tests, you can better navigate the path of dementia care and ensure your loved one receives the best possible support.
Managing Terminal Restlessness
Losing a loved one is an incredibly challenging experience, and witnessing changes in their behavior and well-being can be distressing. As a hospice nurse, I've supported many families and caregivers through this grim time. One common symptom that may arise towards the end of life is restlessness. In this article, I will explain the different types of restlessness and offer guidance on how to manage them. Understanding these distinctions can provide valuable insights into your loved one's condition and help you navigate the final stages of their life with compassion and care.