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 …
What to Do when Care becomes a Burden
One common issue people encounter when dealing with chronic or terminal illness is the challenge of treating several conditions at the same time. You may have multiple physicians to manage each condition, and each physician prescribes a different medication or treatment plan. While each doctor is most concerned with the management of the disease they are treating, they may not …
What Do Hospice Nurses Do?
If you have ever had, or currently have, a family member in hospice, you may have interacted with a hospice nurse before. These healthcare providers can have versatile roles depending on the needs of their patient. It’s a challenging job, according to Iowa River Hospice Nurse, Jeni Mohr. Mohr sees around 14 patients per day, mainly helping them manage their …
The State of Palliative Care in the U.S.: A Progress Report
We at Kindful Hospice take our work seriously, to provide you with the best hospice and palliative care possible. In order to do that, we keep an eye on the latest research on these topics. Beyond studying the latest breakthroughs in patient care, we’re also interested in the larger picture of what palliative care looks like in the U.S. How …