Blog
Tuesday February 21st, 2012

Lessons from the seriously ill

Source: SeriousIllness.org In casual musings, a long-time hospice nurse blogged her list of common end-of-life regrets. While these are by no means the only ones we've seen, they do ring true for many who are experienced in end-of-life care. Consider using them as inspiration to engage in reflection. What can you do NOW to be sure YOU don't have any of these regrets?
Wednesday February 8th, 2012

How to find a good doctor

Source: seriousillness.org When a family member is having health issues, having a smart doctor on the case is a top priority. But where do you go to start looking? Contrary to what you might think, you can find a lot of useful and trustworthy information on the Internet. Andrew Schorr, author of The Web-Savvy Patient, makes these specific recommendations:
hospice
Thursday February 2nd, 2012

Choosing healthy ways to cope

It's a new year. A natural time for personal review. Do you have a good self-care plan? It's common for family caregivers to fall in with not-so-great coping habits. Here's a look at two areas where family caregivers frequently shortchange themselves. Food. Stressed and on the go, fast food and easy sweets often seem like the only option. We all know that's a recipe for a health disaster! Consider these swift, healthy alternatives:
Wednesday January 25th, 2012

Does Medicare pay for help at home?

If your relative is homebound but needs to connect periodically with a medically trained specialist, Medicare may pay for visits to the home. Medicare does NOT pay for help that is nonmedical in nature. For instance, Medicare does not pay for help with cooking or housekeeping, even if the need is because of a medical condition such as Alzheimer's disease. Medicare DOES pay for medical visits. Home health visits can include:
Wednesday January 18th, 2012

Choosing healthy ways to cope

It's a new year. A natural time for personal review. Do you have a good self-care plan? It's common for family caregivers to fall in with not-so-great coping habits. Here's a look at two areas where family caregivers frequently shortchange themselves. Food. Stressed and on the go, fast food and easy sweets often seem like the only option. We all know that's a recipe for a health disaster! Consider these swift, healthy alternatives:
Thursday January 12th, 2012

Walk the Labyrinth!

Walk the Labyrinth!  ...an opportunity for release, reflection, and renewal as you enter a new year! The labyrinth is for everyone:those who are searchingthose who are grievingthose who want to quiet a busy mindthose who seek new beginningsThe labyrinth is for you.
Wednesday January 11th, 2012

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.
Friday January 6th, 2012

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.
Thursday December 29th, 2011

Listening: The other half of the conversation

Good communication requires both speaking and listening. Oddly enough, if you make a specific effort to listen, it can open doors. Once "heard," the other person may be more willing to hear your point of view. Deep listening is more difficult than it sounds. It's not passive. It requires concentration. It also takes humility and empathy. Here are some tips: Consider the setting