Emotional stability and good mental health are important for all of us. When we add the experience of hospice care, finding a sense of balance, calm and general understanding comes into play as an essential piece for everyone involved – the patient, their family and friends, and healthcare providers. It is important to understand how hospice addresses mental health when …
April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day
National Healthcare Decisions Day is an annual collaborative initiative of national, state and community organizations, committed to awareness and to ensure that all adults with decision-making capacity in the United States have the information and opportunity to communicate and document their future healthcare decisions. NHDD is a series of independent events held across the country, supported by a national media …
Perspective and Peace for Families Dealing with End of Life Care Right Now
Hospice does not stop for a world crisis. In uncertain times, end of life care remains a critical part of medical attention for those nearing the end, maybe even more important in times of crisis than at other times, in terms of both the experience as a patient and as a family member caring for a dying loved one. A …
Social Workers Play an Integral Role in Hospice and Palliative Care
March is National Social Worker’s Month, so we are taking a closer look at the role social workers play in end of life care. The goal of hospice and palliative care is to improve the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual quality of life for people living with a serious illness and their families. The close relationship between hospice and palliative care …
Heart Failure Treatments Have Unexpected Impact on End Of Life Care
Nearly 6 million Americans are currently suffering from Heart Failure (HF). This all too common ailment occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood fast enough, resulting in swelling, shortness of breath, and other issues. In the past, heart disease killed ruthlessly and quickly; patients were more likely to die from heart attacks and cardiac arrest than they are …
Patients’ Rights: When Is It Okay to Say No To More Treatment?
Many Americans have encountered tough decisions about end-of-life healthcare treatment and what that might mean for a patient’s quality of life. For Ezekiel J. Emanual, an oncologist and Vice Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, that tough decision came after his aging father suffered a fall. Dr. Emanual’s father was diagnosed with a large brain tumor while in the hospital, …
Understanding The Role of Palliative Care
Palliative care is often confused with hospice and end of life care, but it is so much more than that. Dr. Sunita Puri, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Medical Director for Palliative Care for Keck Medical Center at USC defines it this way, “Palliative care is about taking care of the physical, emotional and spiritual suffering of patients and …
James Garner to Join Kindful Hospice as President
January 20, 2020 — James is a Senior Hospice/Home Health leader and decision-maker who positions companies for accelerated growth and return on investment. James has extensive senior-level experience with Nation-wide Multi-Site operations. James has held senior positions with HCA Healthcare, Vista Care, Odyssey, and Gentiva Hospice. Most recently James held the title of VP of Sales with Heart to Heart …
Are Aggressive Terminal Cancer Treatments Effective?
After her husband was diagnosed with lung cancer, Jane Brody authorized radiation treatments even as his death approached. Her intentions were to help him live long enough to attend a concert of his songs, but after his death, she wondered if she had done the right thing. Her story is not uncommon. Terminal cancer patients will continue to accept aggressive …
Aggressive Cancer Treatments at End of Life
When a patient receives a cancer diagnosis, it’s common to undergo harsh and extreme treatments in pursuit of a cure. The treatments might be difficult to endure, but patients persevere because they hope to be disease-free. If, on the other hand, the cancer diagnosis is terminal, patients will still undergo treatment, even though a cure may not be possible. In …
