Hey everyone, today's episode of The Proactive Caregiver Podcast is a re-play of our episode on Hospice, more than the end of life. So many caregivers often dismiss Hospice as a resource because of the stigma that surrounds it as being only an end of life service. This episode will help you to understand that hospice is so much more.
We are taking some time off this Holiday season and hope you are getting some much-needed respite time as well. Thank you, and now listen in as we learn more about Hospice.
Let me introduce you to Yolanda Campos-Smith, a nurse of 31 years with the majority of it in Critical Care, ICU, ER, and Cardiac Cath Lab. She has enjoyed her past 6 years in Hospice care. Yolanda is a community educator of Hospice services with Bluebonnet Hospice of central Texas. She loves working in this area because it allows her a different way of getting to know patients with their families. Learning about the patient's life story is both fascinating and rewarding.
Sadly, so many think of Hospice as a mere end of life services when Hospice services can help you and your loved ones long before their end of life stage begins. We have become accustomed to thinking Hospice is solely the end but it is about living a quality life as well. Their nondiscriminatory services cover home health care, palliative care, and other therapy support services. No matter what area your loved one lives in you can find local Hospice services to help meet their individual needs. Many are unaware, in most cases, Medicare will cover their services 100% under Home Health benefits.
Regardless of where you are on your caregiving journey, either locally or from a distance, please consider hospice services as another proactive plan. It is worth checking in with your local services to receive a free consultation. You may not think your loved one needs it right now but creating a plan that can be updated as the months pass will relieve quite a bit of stress. You are not alone. Hospice services make sure your loved one receives the care they need, as they need it long before their end of life.
Many families experience excessive emotional stress from the financial aspects of care but oftentimes stress is contributed when not everyone is on the same page regarding care plans or grieving processes. Family drama can become a roadblock to your loved one receiving the care they deserve and need.
Here is some food for thought for you to consider:
Hospice services provide supportive care services for patients and their families who have been diagnosed with a chronic or life-limiting illness. (Cancer, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Kidney Failure, Alzheimer's & Dementia, HIV/AIDS, Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS).
Hospice services include curative measures and therapies while utilizing supportive home healthcare services through care plan options at any stage of an illness. This increases the opportunity for patients and families to address care planning needs while utilizing services.
Hospice services help you where you are, whether in a facility or at home. Having additional skilled hands to help reduces the length of stay in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and rehabilitation services. (Pain management nurses, pharmacy, dietician, or home health aides)
Hospices services provide the primary caregiver and family members a support system as they go through the course of the illness with their loved ones to navigate the unknown and emotional stresses with education and counseling. We are stronger together. We do better when we know better. They address their physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs. (Social workers, support groups, chaplains)
Hospice services are designed to work closely with you and your loved one's physician to tailor a plan of care specifically for them. They will address needs as agreed upon within the family or by Advance Directive as requested by the patient and Power of Attorney.
Still not sure if this is for you or if your loved one is ready, then at least make the call. I know when I find myself bogged down with all the details required to make difficult choices it helped having a conversation with someone in the industry non-biased to family drama. Difficult decisions are still going to be difficult when we let the "What If…" scenarios run rampant in our minds. This is why it is so beneficial to set some time aside to hear from the professional who is there to help you.
Yolanda and so many others are there to help you. Here in the central Texas area, you can reach Yolanda at (512) 200-1209 or Yolanda.smith@bluebonneths.com
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app. Not finding it there? Let me know and I will do what I can to get it added!
Links:
Music:
Intro: Vacation Time by Khris Paradise
Outro: Misty by Khris Paradise
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