Articles are published one to several times per week. The following are upcoming articles over the next several weeks:

May 2024

• Hospice Eligibility for Diverse Dementia Diagnoses - May 13, 2024 - Exploring Hospice Eligibility Criteria for Alzheimer's, Vascular, Lewy Body, Frontotemporal and other Dementias: Empowering Hospice Nurses to Provide Compassionate End-of-Life Care
• Understanding Your Hospice Care Team: A Guide for Patients and Families - May 15, 2024 - The end-of-life journey can be challenging and emotional for patients and their loved ones. A dedicated team of professionals provides comfort, support, and holistic care in hospice care. Each team member has a unique role, ensuring the patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are met. Let's explore the roles of different hospice team members and how they contribute to your care journey.
• Revisiting Time Management for a Hospice Visiting Nurse - May 17, 2024 - I’ve been a hospice nurse for over six years and am writing this article. Over the years, I’ve seen unintentional time management mistakes that pushed outstanding hospice staff to leave the field after feeling “burnt out.” I want to revisit this topic with the hope that if you, as the reader, are feeling burnt out in the field of hospice, if you can implement some of the tips in this article, you will have an improved life-work balance such that you remain in the field.
• Assessing Patients on the FAST Scale: A Guide for Nurses - May 20, 2024 - As a nurse who has cared for many terminally ill individuals with Alzheimer's disease over the years, I understand the importance of accurately assessing their functional decline using the Functional Assessment Staging Tool (FAST). The FAST scale provides valuable information about the progression of Alzheimer's disease and helps guide appropriate care planning for patients and their families. In this guide, I will walk you through the process of assessing patients on the FAST scale, starting from stage 1 and discussing when to stop reading the scale for determination. I will also provide three examples of patients at various stages of the FAST scale.
• Admission Nurse: Important Questions to Ask During the Hospice Admission Visit - May 22, 2024 - As an experienced hospice nurse, I understand the importance of ensuring that patients are eligible for hospice services and receive the compassionate care they need at the end of life. Admission nurses play a crucial role in assessing patients and confirming their terminal status. To support you in this process, I've compiled a list of important questions to ask patients, family members, and caregivers. These questions will help gather valuable information that confirms the patient's eligibility for hospice services.
• Hospice Nursing ADPIE - May 24, 2024 - As a hospice nurse, you are vital in providing compassionate care to terminally ill patients and their families. To ensure the best possible outcomes, you rely on a systematic approach known as ADPIE: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. This process guides you in delivering holistic and individualized care, addressing not only the physical needs of patients but also their emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial well-being.
• Understanding the Common Journey Towards End-of-Life - May 27, 2024 - Caring for a terminally ill loved one can be challenging and emotional. As an experienced hospice nurse case manager, you understand the importance of providing compassionate care and support to loved ones and their families. In this educational article, we will explore the common journey that terminally ill loved ones and their caregivers face as they approach the end of life. We will summarize this journey's various aspects, offering guidance and separating fact from fiction.
• Understanding Self-Soothing Sounds During the End-of-Life - May 29, 2024 - The journey towards the end of life can be a challenging and emotional time, both for the individual facing the end of their life and for their caregivers and family members. One aspect of this journey that may be unfamiliar to many is the presence of self-soothing sounds made by the patient during the transition and actively dying phase. These sounds can be puzzling and sometimes unsettling for caregivers and family members who have never witnessed them. This article will explore self-soothing sounds, why they occur, and how caregivers and family members can distinguish between self-soothing sounds and signs of discomfort.
• Kennedy Ulcers: Understanding, Identification, Care, and Significance in the End-of-Life - May 31, 2024 - Kennedy ulcers, also known as Kennedy terminal ulcers, are skin sores that can develop in individuals during their final hours or days of life. These ulcers can be distressing for both patients and their caregivers, but understanding what they are and how to provide proper care is crucial for ensuring the comfort and dignity of the patient. In this guide, we'll explore Kennedy ulcers, including what they look like, how to identify them, their proper care and treatment, and what they mean in terms of the proximity to the end of life.

June 2024

• The Importance of a Formal Diagnosis for Dementia: A Comprehensive Guide - June 3, 2024 - Dementia is a progressive disease that affects cognitive function, memory, and behavior. It is important to get a formal diagnosis of dementia as early as possible, as it can help predict the patient's needs for comfort and quality of life. A specific diagnosis can also help avoid the risks and dangers of having just a "generic" diagnosis, such as giving the patient haloperidol when they might have Lewy Body Dementia. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of getting a formal diagnosis for dementia, the risks of having a generic diagnosis, and the importance of a specific diagnosis in predicting the patient's needs for comfort and quality of life.
• A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing Dementia and Providing Compassionate Care - June 5, 2024 - Dementia is a complex condition affecting millions worldwide. Diagnosing dementia requires the expertise of medical professionals specializing in cognitive disorders. By guiding families and caregivers through the diagnostic process, you can empower them. In this article, we'll explore the steps to find the right specialist for a dementia diagnosis and how families can prepare for the crucial doctor visit.
• Bowel Management for the Terminally Ill: A Guide for Caregivers and Hospice Nurses - June 7, 2024 - This article provides information and guidance on how to prevent and treat bowel problems. It is for caregivers and hospice nurses who are taking care of terminally ill patients at home or in a facility. We hope this article will help you understand and manage the bowel problems of your loved ones or patients.
• Hospice Care for the Terminally Ill: Beyond Vital Signs - June 10, 2024 - Have you ever wondered what hospice care is and how it can help your loved one who is very sick? Hospice care is a unique medical care that focuses on making dying people feel as comfortable and peaceful as possible. It is not easy to care for someone who is dying, and you may have many questions and worries. You may also feel sad, angry, or scared. That is why hospice care also supports you and your family during this difficult time. In this article, you will learn more about hospice care and how it differs from other medical care. You will also discover why hospice care does not use vital signs, such as blood pressure and heart rate, to check on your loved one. Instead, hospice care uses other ways to make sure your loved one is not in pain or distress. Finally, you will discover some tips and resources that can help you cope with your feelings and challenges as a family member or caregiver of a hospice patient. The main idea of this article is that hospice care is a compassionate and holistic way of caring for the terminally ill and their loved ones.
• How to Communicate Effectively with Healthcare Professionals as a Family Member of a Patient with a Terminal Illness - June 12, 2024 - That is why this article aims to provide tips and strategies for communicating effectively with healthcare professionals as a family member of a patient with a terminal illness. By improving your communication skills, you can help your loved one receive the best possible care, advocate for their best interests, and cope with the emotional challenges of caring for a dying person. In this article, you will learn about: Tips and strategies for effective communication. Advocacy skills for family members. Coping strategies for family members.
• Understanding Interstate Hospice Transfers: A Comprehensive Guide - June 14, 2024 - As a hospice nurse, I understand that transferring a terminally ill patient from one hospice provider to another can be daunting for families. However, it is essential to know that interstate hospice transfers can be done smoothly with the proper preparation and communication. In this article, I will explain the internal processes during an interstate hospice transfer, what steps the family must be aware of and participate in, and any pitfalls to be mindful of to ensure the process goes smoothly.