#GivingTuesday

Black Friday? Cyber Monday? … #GivingTuesday! Let me explain this “new day,” because today is the official start of the giving season and you can help spread the word and participate! We all know the history of the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday. Then the more recent tradition of Cyber Monday was a day added with the popularity of internet shopping and social media. Now there is a day, #GivingTuesday, which is an initiative we anticipate can raise true excitement and joy, even more than the retail stores advertise.

This is the first year for #GivingTuesday. It all started when several foundations and non-profits got together to try and revive the true meaning of the holidays. It’s an initiative help remind people to experience the holidays in a way they may have forgotten. The initiative is to help remind people that it is about more than just shopping and getting good deals; it’s about giving back.

What opportunities are there for #GivingTuesday? Well that is easy! We don’t expect you to stop shopping for your favorite people and closest friends and family, however we do hope you can help us spread the word and participate. The easiest way is share this blog or other posts on your social media sites about #GivingTuesday. 

·        Another great and free way is to give your time and talents to something you are passionate about. Volunteer!

·        Consider the #HungryBears movement like my co-worker Leigh and I did and donate food to your local food pantry. Oh yeah, not just any food. Food you would enjoy for a meal like PB & J or Chicken Fetticcine Alfredo.  

·        Make a donation to your favorite charity, foundation or organization.

·        Get together with friends and be a host for someone less fortunate to brighten their holiday season, child or adult.

·        Donate some clothes, toys and household decorations you no longer use or want that are in good condition.

Hospice of Southern Illinois is excited to support this “new day” and initiative to encourage others to spread the word and participate in giving back. Help us kick off the giving season by donating to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Please visit our website www.hospice.org. We serve patients and families regardless of their ability to pay and it is donations from people like you who enable us to provide excellent hospice care to improve quality of life at the end of life. If Hospice of Southern Illinois is not your organization of choice, we still hope you spread the word and participate in the “new day” that is kicking off the true meaning of the holiday season #Giving Tuesday, giving back and receiving joy. What did you give today? Don't forget to use your Hashtag  #Giving Tuesday when you post today and all holiday season!

Help us share, educate, and reach out by subscribing to our blog and suggesting it to friends who will spread our message: Hospice of Southern Illinois is here to teach you what hospice is, what we are about, and what we can do for you and your loved ones. No one has to go through the dying process alone. Hospice of Southern Illinois can help.

Live well, laugh often, and love much,

Christine Juehne

Hospice of Southern Illinois

Community Education

1-800-233-1708

www.hospice.org

Questions Regarding Your Loved Ones Pain Management

Questions Regarding Your Loved Ones Pain Management

            Although I am not a nurse, from time to time I get to go and help the patients and their families face to face (rather than from behind my computer like I am now). Normally I blog to our online community, work with other social media and provide community education, but sometimes I help by starting the hospice process.

To start the hospice process, an admission nurse would come to the home or home-like setting after getting certification from a doctor that an individual is appropriate for hospice and evaluate the pain and symptoms of a patient to determine what medications and medical equipment would be necessary to get the patient comfortable as soon as possible. At this time the nurse often gets questions from the family regarding their loved one’s pain. Similarly, when I start the hospice process, I often get the same questions. So today I wanted to address some questions that families often ask during the first visit from a hospice. These same questions may be on the patient and family’s mind before even calling hospice and these answers may help a patient and their family decide it is ok to call hospice.

As you may notice, most answers are simply answered by answering the following questions; does this help the patient get comfortable and help get pain under control related to the terminal diagnosis? If the answer to the question above is yes, then often times the answer to the actual question will also be yes (but the patient, nurse and Medical Director will make the final decisions).

• Is an oxygen tank an option while enrolled in a hospice program?
• Yes, oxygen is always an option; especially if this will help make the patient more comfortable (hospice’s focus is comfort measures, rather than curative treatment).
• Can current medications be continued while enrolled in a hospice program?
• Yes, current medications can be continued, however the nurse and Medical Director will have to evaluate on a case by case basis whether these medications are in the best interest for the patients’ plan of care, which is determined by the patient and family. In fact, some current medications could be covered under the hospice benefit.
• What types of IVs are used while enrolled in a hospice program?
• IVs (intravenous method) are used for several reasons in hospice and sometimes they are not used at all depending on the needs and wants of a patient. One reason they are used is to distribute medicine (sometimes taking medicine in alternate ways like orally can be less painful for the patient). Another reason to use IVs is for fluid intake, which at times is necessary and at other times may not be necessary or even wanted (the nurse and Medical Director will decide on a case by case basis if IVs are needed based on the patients’ needs and wants).
• Can feeding tubes be continued while enrolled in a hospice program?
• Yes, feeding tubes can be continued as long as the patient is currently on a feeding tube and it will help keep them comfortable (for providing wanted nutrition) and pain free. It is recommended if a feeding tube is preferred by a patient, they should get one before enrolling in the hospice program because they are rarely provided by the hospice benefit.

Help us share, educate, and reach out by subscribing to our blog and suggesting it to friends who will spread our message: Hospice of Southern Illinois is here to teach you what hospice is, what we are about, and what we can do for you and your loved ones. No one has to go through the dying process alone. Hospice of Southern Illinois can help.

Live well, laugh often, and love much,

Christine Juehne

Hospice of Southern Illinois

Community Education

1-800-233-1708

www.hospice.org

National Hospice Month

     That is what National Hospice Month is all about: raising awareness about what to expect during an end-of-life journey and get individuals the care they deserve providing comfort, love and respect. National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is in November and we are working with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization to help spread the message about how hospices can provide comfort, love and respect through their services.
     The most important thing for people to understand during national hospice month (and always for that matter) is that when it is time to call hospice, hospice is here to help patients and families figure out what to expect during this end-of-life journey. Hospice is a special health care option, here to make sure patients and families are having the best quality of life at end-of-life. A team of professionals will come into the home or home-like setting and provide compassionate care for the individual with a prognosis of 6 months or less to live. Now understand, if someone outlives that 6 month criteria, a doctor will assess the individual again on their pain and symptoms associated with the terminal diagnosis. If the individual still has a prognosis of 6 months or less, they are still eligible for our services beyond the 6 month criteria. This journey does not have to be experienced alone. Call a local hospice to find out how and where people can get the comfort, love and respect they deserve.
     One way a hospice can show comfort, love and respect is through patient centered care. The patients' wishes and needs are the most important piece of the circle of care. Another way, is relieving the stress of care giving by being another type of caregiver who is available for on-call support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Finally (but not last), hospices provide special training and programs to patients and families to ensure they are receiving the best quality care at the end-of-life to feel comfort, feel love and feel respect. Although only a few ways to show comfort, love and respect are listed, there are so many ways hospice organizations can show this to patients and families.
          Help us share, educate, and reach out by subscribing to our blog and suggesting it to friends who will spread our message: Hospice of Southern Illinois is here to teach you what hospice is, what we are about, and what we can do for you and your loved ones. No one has to go through the dying process alone. Hospice of Southern Illinois can help.

Live well, laugh often, and love much,

Christine Juehne

Hospice of Southern Illinois

Community Education

1-800-233-1708

www.hospice.org