Blog
Wednesday October 2nd, 2013

When family members disagree

The person who is ill may have very clear thoughts about what he or she wants in terms of care at the end of life, but family members may not agree. This situation can make things very difficult for the professionals involved. They are legally and ethically bound to follow the patient's wishes. If all the paperwork is complete and available, then there is no question about what will be done.
kate b reynolds home
Wednesday September 25th, 2013

When Mom is really mean

Aging brings with it many losses. Some seniors feel enraged by these changes, and others are terrified by the lack of control. Sadly, when people feel backed into a corner, they often "let fly" with the safest person: the caregiving family member. If spending time with your relative leaves you feeling worthless, picked on, or controlled, that’s cause for concern. And action. In the extreme, your relative’s angry or controlling behavior may constitute emotional abuse:
kate b reynolds
Wednesday September 18th, 2013

Avoiding surgery on the wrong body part

Surgical errors are alarmingly common. They can include the wrong procedure or the wrong person. Or surgery on the wrong body part, such as the left hip instead of the right! The government calls these errors "never events," because they shouldn't ever happen. The good news? Communication is the best prevention. You can play a well-defined role in ensuring your loved one doesn’t become the wrong kind of statistic! Use the following guide to support your relative on the day of surgery, in either an office or hospital setting.
kate b reynolds hospice home
Wednesday September 11th, 2013

Hope and serious illness

In the context of serious illness, one's greatest fear is that the condition will be fatal. Feelings of hopelessness are common-and a life without hope is grim indeed. The challenge of terminal illness is to learn to live with dying, to find purpose and meaning even in the face of a limited future. Without purpose, you risk the death of emotions while you are still alive. Even if a condition is incurable, it is possible to have hope. It's simply that your definition of hope must change.
kate b reynolds hospice home
Wednesday September 4th, 2013

What to do with their stuff?

If you are helping a relative downsize for a move, it is often helpful to sort belongings into four categories: items to keep items to throw away items to sell items to give to charity Items to keep and to throw away have obvious action steps. If you have a lot to dispose of, ask the local waste hauler to drop a debris box at the curb. Be sure to shred anything that includes personal identification information.
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday August 21st, 2013

"I can't get Dad to budge!"

Has your loved one ever flatly rejected your perfectly sensible solution to their problem? Though your idea may seem like the obvious route to take, it’s not so simple when you’re caring for an older adult. Your loved one has had a lifetime of making his or her own choices. If a decision must be made, start with one simple principle: Take your eye off the goal. Focus on the process instead. We all want to be treated like people rather than like a project in need of completion.
hospice healing build winston-salem
Wednesday August 7th, 2013

Hospice Healing Build: Using Grief to Help Others

The death of a loved one and the grief that comes with it often destroys dreams—dreams of what could have been, dreams of what should have been.  Grief often destroys hope, as well.  The Hospice Healing Build, a new and meaningful partnership between two local non-profit organizations, Habitat for Humanity and Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, seeks to help bereaved members of our community rebuild hope by providing active and meaningful ways to process grief.  “We tend to think of grief as only an emotional experience
kate b reynolds
Wednesday July 31st, 2013

Early detection of memory problems

Once a year, encourage your relative to see the doctor for an “Annual Wellness Visit.” The purpose of this free exam is to catch emerging health problems early on. Identifying changes in thinking or memory is a primary reason for the visit. If the doctor detects problems, your relative will receive further tests. Screening for memory loss is invaluable. It can help
kate b reynolds hospice home
Wednesday July 24th, 2013

Dealing with extreme heat

Make sure your loved one is ready to “take the heat” this summer. Older bodies are less able to cope with excessive heat, so it’s important to ensure safeguards are in place. Check in with your relative’s doctor. Certain chronic conditions and medications increase an older adult’s risk of heat stroke. Get advice on optimal fluid intake and medication management for times of extreme heat.