Tag Archives: fear

Be Sociable, Share!

    Believing in Miracles – Part I

    Posted on by
    Reply

    Death is a natural process of life. At times it may catch us off guard and we may not feel quite ready or prepared to accept it. At other times, it’s expected and we have more time to grieve healthily. However, if there is one thing I know for certain, it is that there is something very special we experience within each loss we must accept and endure.

    Though I have had many experiences with death in the past, three people stand out to me the most: my uncle Tad, my grandmother, and my grandfather.

    Tad and I at his wedding to Aunt Patty

    Part I:

     Uncle Tad

    Uncle Tad gave the best hugs. The kind of hugs that really make you feel loved and cared for. I used to get one of his hugs several times each summer when he and my Aunt Patty visited for family pool parties. Uncle Tad had the job of grilling the hamburgers and hot dogs, and he seemed to always wear an apron that said, “Kiss the Cook”. Continue reading →

    Be Sociable, Share!

      Fear: Pain’s Loud Friend

      Posted on by
      Reply

      One of the biggest fears we see faced by patients and their loved ones over and over in hospice care is the fear of pain. Not just the fear of being IN pain, but the fear that comes with not having a good understanding of pain and how it can be managed. Of course, it doesn’t have to be this way.

      Most fear associated with pain can be alleviated through improving both the patient’s and family’s understanding of pain. Below are some common myths about pain addressed in a new website produced by a division of the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) called Caring Connections. A special area of their website, called LIVE without pain, is focused on improving pain education among the general public, but particularly among those in end of life care (including family caregivers).

      Some people think that pain is a natural part of aging or illness – that is a myth. There is almost always a reason for the pain and most physical pain can be managed.   Learning the truth about pain and what you can do to manage your pain can help you focus on other parts of your life and enjoy your days. 

      The following statements and answers provide some facts about pain and pain management. Continue reading →

      Be Sociable, Share!

        Taking Responsibility For Death

        Posted on by
        Reply

        Taking Responsibility for Death

        By: Susan Jacoby, OP-ED contributor for The New York Times

         

         

         

        “The hospice room and pain-relieving palliative care cost only about $400 a day, while the average hospital stay costs Medicare over $6,000 a day. Although Mom’s main concern was her comfort and dignity, she also took satisfaction in not running up Medicare payments for unwanted treatments and not leaving private medical bills for her children to pay.
        A third of the Medicare budget is now spent in the last year of life, and a third of that goes for care in the last month. Those figures would surely be lower if more Americans, while they were still healthy, took the initiative to spell out what treatments they do — and do not — want by writing living wills and appointing health care proxies.
        …end-of-life planning is one of the few actions within the power of individuals who wish to help themselves and their society.
        As someone over 65, I do not consider it my duty to die for the convenience of society. I do consider it my duty, to myself and younger generations, to follow the example my mother set by doing everything in my power to ensure that I will never be the object of medical intervention that cannot restore my life but can only prolong a costly living death.”

         

        For full article click here.

        Be Sociable, Share!

          The Need For Breakpoint Conversations

          Posted on by
          Reply

          A fairly recent article in the New York Times provides a great discussion about having the tough conversation with a terminal patient.  It points to a very interesting study in Sweden where discussions about death, referred to as breakpoint conversations, are less likely to be avoided, and compares those who were well informed about their prognosis to those who were not.  My favorite finding in the study was that those who had a better understanding of their prognosis were more likely to die in the place they preferred (70 percent v. 39 percent).  For most of us, that is at home.

          Following is an excerpt from the article. Click the link provided at the end to read the full article on why doctors must become more comfortable with breakpoint conversations. Continue reading →

          Be Sociable, Share!

            Pieces of The End Of LIfe Puzzle

            Posted on by
            Reply

            Social workers and chaplains are one of the first core team members that introduce hospice and end of life philosophy to the patient. The initial visit is critical in building the trust factor. Social workers generally have to rid preconceived ideas or beliefs about their discipline. Chaplains sometimes have the same issues with the complexities of spiritual backgrounds. Patients at times question if the chaplain will change their foundation of beliefs. Our social workers and chaplains are skilled, professional, and knowledgeable in assessing for the psychological, social, and spiritual needs of the patient and family. This is where the pieces of the puzzle start to come together.

            Over time, social workers and chaplains, also known as Family Services, develop skills and a knowledge base that are focused on maximizing the quality of life for the patient and family, and promoting and supporting positive changes in the patient. A common practice for helpers in our society is to approach those they help as defective in some way and assume their problems result from their personal flaws or weakness. This approach can create a web of negative expectations about the patient, the patient’s environment, and the patient’s capacity to deal with the problems of daily life. Continue reading →