Personal Care Management
Routine Breaks for Caregivers
Incontinence Supplies
Hospice is a special kind of care that focuses on the quality of life for people and their caregivers experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness. Hospice services provide compassionate care for people in the last phases of incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible.
Hospice provides care and services in the North Texas area. We have the following unique advantages including:
We come to where you are while you continue to enjoy the stability and security of familiar surroundings.
Our assistance enables you to continue leading an independent lifestyle.
Your services are delivered in the privacy of where you are. Your dignity is preserved and confidentiality maintained.
Our commitment to service is evidenced by a fully-trained and licensed staff eager to meet Medicare/Medicaid Hospice care and select insurance company guidelines.
Our variety of services fulfills the orders of your physician and /or allows you to select the services that best meet your needs.
We provide compassionate care for the patient and family as a unit, using the skills and expertise of many disciplines. The patient benefits from the clinical services addressing the physical and comfort needs, social, emotional, and spiritual care, as well as interpersonal relationships with family and close friends. Choosing to begin palliative (comfort) care allows the patient and family to remain together in the comfort and security of their home or a home-like setting. Once admitted to hospice, a Care Team serves the patient. Each one focused on tending to the patient’s physical, spiritual, and social needs. The patient’s nurse, social worker, and counselor are available for support, including visits to the home, on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week basis.
We just wanted to thank you all for taking such great care of Bob, as well as all of us. You gave him the best quality of life he could have, and you always gave him a personal touch.
I cannot thank Christian Care Hospice enough for the love and care that was given to our father. The time and effort it took to put this book together is just another example of that love and care being extended to his family; now that he is gone.
We are touched beyond measure and so grateful for you and your team’s actions, care, and compassion. We thanked God for mom and with CCC&S Fort Worth and Christian Care Hospice by our side together we sent mom home to heaven.
As part of the Medicare or Medicaid hospice benefit, we provide patient care, medication, medical supplies, and medical equipment related to the patient’s diagnosis. Many private insurance policies cover hospice care. Hospice will provide hospice care, as funds allow, to patients not eligible for the Medicare and Medicaid hospice benefits and who do not have private insurance. This is possible through the community’s generosity through donations, bequests, memorials, and fund-raising efforts.
To lessen family burdens and provide patient dignity, our Certified Nursing Assistants help with daily living activities.
Personal Care Management
Routine Breaks for Caregivers
Incontinence Supplies
Our professional counselors are dedicated to providing grief support to Hospice patients, their families, and anyone in our community who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Our compassionate team of counselors specializes in providing grief and loss support. Your counselor is available to you 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
It may surprise many people to learn that 25% of those who die every year in the U.S. are Veterans. To help provide care and support that reflect the significant contributions made by these men and women, Hospice has become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As a We Honor Veterans Partner, Hospice has implemented ongoing Veteran-centered education for their staff and volunteers to help improve the care they provide to the Veterans they proudly serve.
The We Honor Veterans campaign provides tiered recognition to organizations that demonstrate a systematic commitment to improving care for Veterans. Campaign partners can assess their ability to serve Veterans and integrate best practices for providing end-of-life care to Veterans into their organization using resources provided in the campaign. By recognizing the unique needs of our nation’s Veterans who are facing a life-limiting illness, Hospice can better accompany and guide Veterans and their families toward a more peaceful ending. In cases where there might be some specific needs related to the Veteran’s military service, combat experience, or other traumatic events, Hospice will find tools to provide the proper support.
“All hospices are serving Veterans but often aren’t aware of that person’s service in the armed forces,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president, and CEO. “Through We Honor Veterans, we are taking a giant step forward in helping hospice, and palliative care providers understand and serve Veterans at the end of life and work more effectively with VA medical facilities in their communities.”
“VA shares a common goal with our nation’s hospices, and that is to provide the best possible care specifically tailored for Veterans, meeting their goals of care in their preferred setting. As we focus on working together and unite our services and skills, We Honor Veterans will channel our combined strengths directly to Veterans – wherever they are receiving care.”
The resources of We Honor Veterans focus on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment, coupled with Veteran-centric education of health care staff caring for Veterans. To learn more about We Honor Veterans or support this vital work via a secure, online donation, please visit www.wehonorveterans.org.
“America’s Veterans have done everything asked of them in their mission to serve our country, and we believe it is never too late to give them a hero’s welcome home. Now it is time that we step up, acquire the necessary skills, and fulfill our mission to serve these men and women with the dignity they deserve,” added Schumacher.
Stress is a normal response felt by everyone at some point during their life. However, no matter your age the effects of chronic stress, physically and mentally, can lead to a lower quality of life. The best thing you can do to maintain your health is to reduce stress as much as possible.
To accomplish this, there are several things to consider with the first step being to pick out the stressors in your life. According to Brainline, only then can you take the reins and develop a way to deal with stress in a healthy way. Remember not to overthink the first step, since that could lead to even more stress. Instead, read on to learn about common stressors you face as a senior so that you can begin finding healthier responses for them.
One of the biggest stressors most every age group faces on a regular basis is tied to their bank account. For good reason too, since the cost of living continues to rise. If you’re plagued with stress over your finances, take action with a plan to speak to a financial advisor, accountant or family member to help you create a budget, find ways to cut back or supplement your income, or to locate services in your area that may be able to provide assistance. That hobby you love to do could become a source of extra income. There are also local programs that can assist you in finding employment in areas that are looking to hire seniors in the community or from the comfort of your own home.
For some, working might not be an option and in these cases, you can look into ways to decrease your spending. Look into your monthly household expenses and make sure you are on the best plans for utilities, that you are receiving discounts based on your age where applicable, and that you have run an audit on what you can cut or downsize. Do you need all of the data or minutes on your current mobile plan, have you check on your auto insurance to make sure that you are not paying for services or items that you don’t need? Maybe your insurance provider needs to be contacted to have your plan reevaluated, which is tied to another common source of financial stress among seniors — healthcare.
Healthcare is one of the biggest expenses you face as you age. The older you get, the more care you’ll possibly need and the cost of that care continues to rise. According to Debt.org, a couple needs at least $280,000 available in savings to pay for care as they continue aging. This amount doesn’t include the funds necessary for long-term care if that becomes a need.
Medicare is extremely beneficial for seniors, but it can be a little tricky to navigate since there are so many plans available. Do a little research online to determine which Medicare plans are available and how they will work best for you and your budget. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional for additional information and comparison. There are new changes every year and you want to make sure that your decision is based on the most accurate information available for the upcoming benefit year. You want to make sure that you understand all that they will cover and won’t cover when it comes to hospitalizations, prescriptions, dental, vision, hearing, and preventative care benefits. You will also want to know the cost of these plans and how much you may have to come out of pocket for in addition to your monthly premium.
It’s critical that seniors get the sleep they need because a lack of sleep can play a major role in increased stress. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to make sure that there isn’t an underlying cause. You can also make some small changes to your sleep environment, such as making your sleep space as comfortable as possible, adding a white noise machine and a room diffuser with essential oils that promote peace and calm. Add some room-darkening shades and adjust the temperature to a comfortable setting. If your mattress is uncomfortable or if you’ve been sleeping on the same one for many years, invest in a new one. A memory foam mattress can be a great choice for seniors because, despite varying levels of firmness, they all provide pressure-point relief. Before choosing a new mattress, consider desired firmness and what type of sleeper you are. For example, a DreamCloud memory foam mattress can handle all types of sleepers, while a Loom & Leaf mattress is for all sleeper types but offers both medium-firm and extra-firm models.
Aging itself leads to plenty of stress at times. The stairs in your home become a hurdle on stiffened joints, and the long hikes you once took to decompress lead to chest pain or joint swelling. Many seniors are can become distressed or agitated by the limitations that come with aging. In fact, there have been links made between physical limitations and anxiety and/or depression. This is another reason why seeking support for stress is so important. Talking about your concerns can help make it easier to cope and find solutions. If you’re feeling anxiety or depression, don’t be embarrassed to contact a professional for help. Licensed counselors and therapists are there to help you sort through those feelings and focus on how to work through what is causing you stress.
The key is to take action whenever you’re feeling stressed. Call a friend, family member, or professional to take control of your life and the issues causing you stress. Working to rid yourself of stressful thoughts and situations will allow you to live a longer, healthier and — most importantly — happier life.
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When a loved one is at the end stages of a terminal illness or is naturally coming to the end of their life, hospice care can help ease the transition for everyone. Although this is not a joyful occasion, when it’s preceded by suffering and pain, death can be even harder to bear. Hospice care provides many services, such as pain control and 24/7 monitoring, meaning your loved one is never alone, and the burden of pain is lifted. Keep reading for more information on hospice and ways you can best help your loved one plan for their own death.
There are several steps involved in the end-of-life care planning process. These include:
Research. You have options when it comes to who provides hospice care for your loved one. You may choose a private nurse to administer care to your dying loved one, or they may use their Medicare benefits to pay for hospice care, although providers may be limited depending on where you live. Start your research by discussing your loved one’s condition with their primary medical doctor.
Discussion. Once you have your options narrowed down, talk to the patient if they are cognitive and aware. If they have not already stated their preferences, ask how they prefer to handle pain management and make sure you have legal documents, such as power of attorney and, if applicable, a DNR (do not resuscitate) order on hand.
Funeral planning. Planning a funeral for someone who is still alive is extremely emotional. However, as Lincoln Heritage points out, an average funeral can cost up to $9,000. If they are able to help with the planning process, this ensures that their final wishes are carried out, regardless of whether they prefer a traditional burial or alternative type of service. If your loved one is eligible for funeral expense insurance, the sooner this coverage is purchased, the better. Knowing how the funeral will be arranged – and how it will be paid for – in advance can lessen some of the emotional and financial strain that naturally goes along with death.
Provider selection. As you look over your potential providers, make sure to compare the level of service they offer and how quickly they can respond in the event of a crisis. Hospice nurse Angela Morrow explains to Verywell Health that the proximity of your providers is your number one consideration.
Hospice care is an intensive medical service provided only to those with a life expectancy that does not exceed six months. It is intended as palliative care only. Service providers, which will include a hospice physician, nurse, home health aide, chaplain, and others, are available to ease pain and improve quality of life, not to provide a cure for the patient’s condition.
As mentioned, hospice care is intended to improve quality of life. This is important for the patient since they are allowed to ease into their end days in relative comfort. However, it is also a valuable service to the family and can make it possible for the primary caregiver to receive physical, spiritual, and emotional support. Your hospice team can also help you come up with ways to make your family member even more comfortable. They may suggest a specific type of bedding, music, massage, or activities that will evoke positive emotions, such as looking at pictures of their grandchildren or listening to music from their youth.
Death is a certainty for us all. But when it is expected to come soon, hospice care can ease the burden. If you find yourself in the early stages of end-of-life care, remember that research and planning are your most powerful allies.
This is an article written by Lucille Rosetti of The Bereaved.
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