Ft Logan military memorial service
It’s been a week of hospice care and funerals. I attended a military service at Ft. Logan cemetery here in Denver for a client. My father was a WWII veteran and we had the national honor guard at a private cemetery for his service. They performed a 21 gun salute, which at the time I [...]
Hospice care for pancreatic cancer sufferer
I have a friend whose husband became ill after the December holidays and was diagnosed with kidney and pancreatic cancer and had a life expectancy of one to six months. My friend was shocked because there were little signs that her husband was not well but it did not seem that the causes were so [...]
When caring for an aging loved one and asking about life expectancy
So how do we know when to ask about life expectancy? In my opinion it is practical to ask in instances of chronic disease that do not seem to be improving i.e. an individual with repeated cardiac issues and hospitalizations, a diabetic whose treatment continues to require more care and for individuals who seem to [...]
Hospice care for your pet
Hospice care isn’t just for people it can also be for pets. My most recent experiences involve my client with Parkinson’s disease whose health declined extremely rapidly and at the same time the decline of a family pet. Know that I do not wish to minimize the death of a client by relating it to [...]
Starting hospice care sooner rather than later
Statistics show that hospice care is often not initiated until the last weeks of life. In reality, hospice care can be initiated when an individual has six months or less life expectancy as indicated by a physician. I know that families have little knowledge about hospice care and sometimes don’t feel comfortable discussing end of [...]
Ask the difficult questions about health early
Illness often creeps up over time and sometimes progresses more rapidly than we expect. Even those involved in the healthcare industry do not see signs until issues have progressed. Sometimes it’s more important to ask difficult questions early on that to be surprised later. A client of mine with Parkinson’s disease had a fall in [...]
When to call a care navigator to advocate on your parents behalf
Your parent’s health has declined and they require frequent medical appointments in addition to daily home care. While many home care agencies can provide daily care they do not specialize in monitoring medical appointments and the resulting follow ups that also occur. It’s also sometimes uncomfortable to provide blanket permission for an individual to become [...]
Finding a care navigator for your loved one in Colorado
You live in Alaska and your father lives in Denver and needs monitoring. By retaining the services of an advocate and care navigator you don’t need to work about distance or time. In this case the father, with early Alzheimer’s disease, needed daily assistance with meals, grocery shopping, medical appointments and personal care. Depending on [...]
Social connections and aging
Remaining socially connected is very important to quality of life as we age. Whether it’s the ability to see family and friends or to participate in events that are of interest. With a little research you’ll be able to find interest groups that match your own, charitable organizations that need support or volunteers, clubs or [...]
When your mother can no longer drive
You’ve solved the issues in your home that were causing concern or difficult and not you find that it is suggested that you no longer drive. What about groceries, medical appointments, social occasions etc. Depending on where you live there may be a variety of options. Many grocery stores offer delivery services for homebound individuals. [...]
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