Blog

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.
hospice winston salem
Wednesday July 10th, 2013

Important Decisions: Financial and Health Care Planning

Death and dying are not topics we talk about easily in our culture. As a general rule, in fact, we avoid them, almost as if to talk about them would bring on a premature demise. As a result, many families are unaware of their loved one's wishes at the end of life and are faced with making difficult decisions. This can lead to family discord and can make a trying situation even harder than it already is.
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday July 3rd, 2013

When your relative has money questions

Is Dad asking if he should sell the house now that Mom is gone? Or perhaps Aunt Mary is anxious about her savings running out. Even if you are good at managing your own money, helping a relative make financial decisions can bring a lot of pressure. Consider hiring a professional advisor. Ask your friends for the names of financial services specialists (financial planners or investment advisors) they would recommend. Interview several candidates, in person. Ask about
Friday June 28th, 2013

Summer Circular 2013

The Summer Circular 2013 contains: At Any Moment - It Could Be Otherwise, Caregivers Turned Carpenters, A Message from the CEO, The Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House opened doors, Support for the Annual Hope Run Grows Each Year, Betsy Millar - a True Pioneer, Lots of Conversation about Having the Conversation, A Good Pastor at the Hour of Death, Ellen Goodman Addresses the Importance of Starting "The Conversation," Hospice & Palliative CareCenter - Kate B.
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday June 19th, 2013

What is mild cognitive impairment?

"Senior moments" are a normal part of aging. They happen to everyone. We just don’t process things as quickly as we did in younger years. Some people develop significant memory and thinking problems, however, and are eventually unable to live safely on their own. These people have conditions that bring on a full-fledged dementia, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday June 12th, 2013

Conflict Over Medical Decisions

Frequently in serious illness, treatment decisions must be made quickly. It is not uncommon for relatives to have differing ideas about the best course. Some may feel their loved one should pursue aggressive treatments. Others may feel that therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy do not offer enough benefits given their negative effect on the limited time their family member may have.
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday June 5th, 2013

What are Advanced Directives?

For help with this important conversation, the Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney, contact the Community Partnership for End of Life Care. Advance directives are legal documents that specify your health care wishes if you are unable to speak for yourself. Each state has its own approved form. Most forms describe several options for end-of-life care and can be used to provide any additional instructions a person may want to include. You may change your advance directive whenever you choose.
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday May 29th, 2013

Look ahead when downsizing

It’s a big decision to have Mom or Dad move into a smaller living situation. Often more emotionally challenging, however, are the many little decisions your relative must make about what to keep and what to let go. Possessions, from furniture to garden tools, hold many dear memories. Giving them up forces recognition that one day your loved one's life will come to a close. The first step to reduce emotional strain is to allow plenty of time. Senior move experts recommend a minimum of three months lead-time. Consider these steps: