Robert Laethem, Author at Cardinal Hospice

28 05, 2022

End of Life: Grief and Bereavement

Robert Laethem2022-07-27T09:32:43+00:00Categories: Hospice Care|

Losing family members or loved ones—or even seeing them in their last few days—can be one of the most painful things to go through in life. There’s never an easy way to handle such a situation and all the emotions that come with it. While death is an inevitable reality, nothing can fully prepare you for the impact of experiencing a loss. While people cope with loss in different ways, death generally results in grief and bereavement. During this time, you may experience a barrage of different emotions, such as denial, shock, sadness, anger, or yearning. Regardless, remember that your feelings are valid and normal. Likewise, it takes time to fully accept what has happened, so you shouldn't feel bad if you need to take time off. To help you through this difficult time, you can read the information below to understand the grieving process and learn how to find bereavement support. What are Grief, Mourning, and Bereavement? Grief, mourning, and bereavement are often used interchangeably as emotional reactions to the death or loss of a loved one. While there are similarities between the three, they aren’t the same. Get to know each of them in more detail below. Grief It’s normal and expected to experience grief after a loss, such as death, the loss more

3 05, 2022

11 End Of Life Signs: What to expect?

Robert Laethem2022-07-27T09:06:56+00:00Categories: Health, News|

It’s never easy to think about your or your loved one’s death, but the reality is that everyone reaches this stage at some point in their life. While we all go through a different journey, there are some common end of life signs that may indicate when we are nearing death. As much as you might not want to think of the dying process, knowing what to expect as death approaches can help you prepare ahead and make necessary arrangements. It also allows you to maximize the time you have left and spend more time with your family, friends, and loved ones. With that, here’s a guide containing more information on what to expect at the end of life. Whether you intend to prepare yourself for this inevitability or plan to arrange hospice care for your loved ones, you can continue reading below to understand the signs and stages of death and dying. End of Life Signs Decreasing Appetite and Thirst As a person’s body starts to shut down, it stops seeking the nourishment and energy that it normally gets from food. As such, you’ll notice a dramatic decrease in appetite, with patients refusing food and water. While this is understandably upsetting, it’s important not to push someone to eat or drink when they are dying, more

8 04, 2022

End of Life Care: Providing Care and Comfort

Robert Laethem2022-07-27T09:32:18+00:00Categories: Hospice Care, News|

The end of life is a natural event that no one can prevent nor postpone when it is time. Eventually, your loved ones will get old and reach their final hours. However, this does not mean that one should forgo the need to seek quality care and support when the inevitable comes. In fact, when death is nearing, it becomes even more vital for an individual to receive palliative care to provide them with the utmost comfort and dignity they deserve. After all, everyone is entitled to a comfortable and quality life, regardless of one’s condition and state. Read on below to learn more about end of life care and how it can benefit the patient and their families, especially during one’s final days. What is end of life care? End of life care refers to the overall care and support provided to a person nearing the end of their life. Its main focus is to help the patient live as well and comfortable as possible until their final breath. Furthermore, it aims to improve one’s quality of life despite being in their last days, months, or years. End of life services involve different kinds of physical, mental, social, and spiritual assistance. This type of care may look different for each patient since everyone has different more

22 02, 2022

3 Questions to Ask Yourself: Is it Time for Hospice?

Robert Laethem2022-07-27T09:08:32+00:00Categories: Adults, Health, Hospice Care, News|

One of the most challenging seasons in life is caring for aging and ill family members. It is difficult to watch your loved ones suffer from symptoms of terminal illnesses, such as cancer, dementia, and heart disease. Feelings of helplessness and fear can take over thoughts clouding your judgment and adding to the stress of trying to juggle their needs and the demands of our busy lives. The heartbreaking truth is that it is only a matter of time before your loved ones' needs may become unmanageable without additional support or professional care, as their illness progresses. Instead of focusing on the overwhelm, it’s time to allow our caring staff to support your family’s needs. This will allow you to focus on the most important things, time together and comfort. We understand the stress brought on by making medical decisions, providing care and trying to navigate increased medical visits takes a toll on caregivers, that is why we will work to tailor a care plan you need that surrounds the whole family. Here are three questions that can help you determine when’s the right time for hospice. Does your loved one have life-limiting conditions? Hospice care is the best choice of care option for patients diagnosed with a terminal illness and who have been determined to more

22 02, 2022

5 Common Hospice Diagnosis

Robert Laethem2022-07-27T09:09:12+00:00Categories: Adults, Health, Hospice Care, News|

It is an unfortunate misconception that hospice care is only for those expected to die in a few weeks or a “place” for the dying and hopeless people with terminal illnesses. Hospice care is in fact meant to serve those who are suffering from a terminal illness, yes, but was developed to provide care and support to sustain quality of life. When a terminally ill patient and their loved ones embrace hospice care for what it really is一a health plan that focuses on improving one’s quality of life, it becomes an option that centers on caring instead of curing which allows the family to spend their energy and attention on what matters. In fact, statistics suggest that roughly 53.8% of Medicare beneficiaries chose and received hospice services as part of their plan of care. That was a 4% increase in hospice patients compared to the previous year. It is a testament to the benefits that come with partnering your car with a hospice team. Families should never make assumptions that their loved one won’t qualify. Speaking to our experienced specialists will help you determine the qualifications and next steps. This is how Cardinal Hospice helps take the pressure off of your family, we help every step of the way. Additionally, more and more people with different more

23 01, 2022

Starting a Conversation: How to Talk to Someone About Hospice Care?

Robert Laethem2022-07-27T09:33:46+00:00Categories: Health|

Major life decisions have always been a challenging topic for anyone, especially if it’s a conversation about end of life care of a loved one. It may not be easy, but talking about hospice and palliative care in advance can help the whole family make an informed decision without hassle and stress. But the big question here is this: how can you talk to someone about hospice care? As with any life-changing decision, it’s crucial to have an open, calm, and honest discussion about it. It’s also essential to gather facts first and learn how hospice care can benefit a loved one. Read on below as we give tips on how to have a productive conversation with a loved one about hospice care. When Should You Start the Conversation? According to studies, starting hospice care early on allows patients to reap its full benefits, thus improving one’s quality of life. So ideally, talk of any end-of-life care plans should start when your loved one is still healthy and able to make decisions for themselves. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. More often than not, hospice care will only be brought up when sudden medical crises happen. Some examples of the circumstances that may trigger the conversation include: When the patient or loved one has been more

6 01, 2022

Misconceptions: 10 Hospice Myths and Facts

Robert Laethem2022-07-27T09:33:20+00:00Categories: Health, Hospice Care|

Hospice care has been gaining significant traction after countless studies have documented its notable benefits. In fact, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reported that about 1.55 million people sought and received hospice care in 2018 alone. That’s already a 4% increase of patients compared to prior years. However, there are still a lot of misconceptions about hospice care from patients, families, and caregivers alike. Hospice myths and facts seem to overlap for some people, preventing them from getting the care and support they need. So, let’s set things straight by debunking some of the most common myths surrounding hospice care. Myth #1: Hospice is only for people who have given up on life. Fact: Many people associate the term “hospice” with “dying” or “giving up.” But in reality, hospice works its wonders by giving hope to terminally ill people that there’s still more to life than their disease. Hospice care is specifically designed to improve the overall well-being of a person with life-limiting conditions, such as cancer or any chronic diseases. It aims to honor one’s end-of-life choices and provide the care they need with dignity and respect. Furthermore, hospice care service not only meets the medical needs of a patient. It also focuses on improving the emotional, psychosocial, mental, and spiritual aspects of more

6 01, 2022

The 5 Stages of Palliative Care

Robert Laethem2022-07-27T09:34:06+00:00Categories: Health|

Having a chronic, ultimately terminal, illness takes away a lot of one’s freedom to choose. For example, the choice to eat any food you want, to travel, or do your favorite activities. But there’s one thing you or your loved one still have control over一the kind of comfort care and end-of-life plan you want. One such example is palliative care. The 5 stages of palliative care aim to improve the quality of life of patients with chronic or terminal diseases. This type of care focuses on managing the condition’s symptoms along with specific treatments intended to cure the illness. But above all, palliative care aims to honor one’s wishes and individual needs regarding their medical care. Learn more about palliative care and its five stages by reading our in-depth discussion below. What Is Palliative Care? Palliative care refers to a type of long-term care that provides pain management and symptom relief for patients with chronic illnesses. It also involves improving the patient’s quality of life by focusing on their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. All these efforts may be made together with medical treatments focused on curing the severe disease itself. Palliative care also benefits the patient’s family and loved ones by providing emotional and spiritual support. Here are some of the specific services you more

23 11, 2021

Celebrating Home Care and Hospice Month – November 2021

Robert Laethem2021-11-23T23:09:24+00:00Categories: Health, Hospice Care|

Many people get chills when they hear the word hospice care because they associate it with the final moments in life. The national hospice month is here to change that perception and help us understand how this care benefits the chronically ill and their families. In 2018, more than 1.55 million patients and families benefited from home care and hospice services. This number represents a 4% increase from 2017. In addition, ongoing home care represented 98.2% of the services offered to improve the quality of life of Medicare beneficiaries in the same year. We come together every year in the month of November to celebrate millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable contribution to the families they serve. These selfless professionals spend every day of their life ensuring terminally ill patients and their families find dignity and love when it all feels almost impossible. Read on for a more in-depth insight into hospice care as the community honors the millions of professionals who dedicate their lives to this service. The Theme for this Year’s National Hospice Month As the nation celebrates national home care, we want everyone to remember that “It's About How You Live.” Draw inspiration from this theme to see the good side of life even when more

22 10, 2021

What Is Hospice Care At Home: A Comprehensive Guide

Robert Laethem2021-11-23T23:10:30+00:00Categories: Health, Hospice Care, News|

According to studies, if given a chance, seven in ten Americans would prefer to pass peacefully in the comfort of their home. However, not everyone has the opportunity to choose their own end-of-life care plan or have their last wishes honored. Fortunately, it is still not too late for you or your loved one to prioritize comfort rather than prolonging life through drugs and hospitalization. You can start discussing the possibility of hospice care to improve your loved one’s quality of life right away. But what is hospice care at home, and what does this care option entail? Keep on reading below as we go into detail about everything you need to know about hospice. What is Hospice? Hospice care refers to a unique care option given to individuals with a life-limiting condition or terminal illness. Doctors can also recommend hospice to individuals when: Their bodies do not respond to the treatments administered to cure their disease. They have a downward prognosis despite medications. They want to forgo treatments and get relief from their symptoms instead. This way, they can focus on enjoying their last remaining days the way they want to. Hospice care also aims to provide support to patients by relieving their pain and managing other symptoms so they can live as comfortably as more

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