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April 13, 2022

What Is Hospice Care And How Can It Help?

Hospice care is not something most people want to talk about, but it’s a topic that needs to be discussed to better understand the many benefits and also dispel any misconceptions.

Hospice care is a set of specialty care services that assist individuals who have a life-limiting or terminal illness, as well as their families. The care provided includes medical, emotional, spiritual and grief support. Often, when hospice is first suggested, the patient or the family is hesitant to accept it because they don’t fully understand what it entails. Usually, those who do receive it say they wish they had accepted the care sooner, because they had no idea how much help it could be.

Hospice care includes many things and can cover:

  • Medical care from registered nurses trained in pain control and symptom management.
  • Personal care needs such as feeding, bathing, shaving, etc.
  • Emotional support from social workers who can help manage emotional aspects of late-stage illness.
  • Spiritual care is offered by chaplains who are professional clergy.
  • Companionship from volunteers. They will come by to play cards, read to you, take a walk or just sit and talk over a cup of coffee with you.
  • Grief support from grief specialists who can offer one-on-one visits, phone calls and literature to family members for as long as 13 months.

Hospice does not have to be a brick-and-mortar location where you send people. This care is offered at a patient’s home, a facility or in the hospital. It can be tailored to the individual needs of a patient and their family.

One mistaken belief is that hospice care is only for cancer patients, but this is not true. Anyone, from infants to the elderly, who are suffering from a life-limiting and/or terminal illness can benefit. Most patients and families who begin hospice care as soon as possible find that it helps ease the burden significantly.

It’s also important to know hospice services, including medication and equipment that may be needed because of the patient’s diagnosis, are completely covered under the Medicare/Medicaid. Most private insurance carriers also offer a hospice benefit.

Those who are hesitant to discuss hospice care often fear that if they begin talking about it or decide to start, then that means they have given up or have no hope. It isn’t a matter of giving up, but rather providing the best possible life during the time the patient has left. Many people in hospice care enjoy a better quality of life.

If you or a loved one are facing a terminal illness diagnosis, speak to someone about how hospice care may be able to help.

Understanding Different Types of Funeral Services

By Ruthanna Gordon • February 12, 2025
Choosing the right funeral service is a personal journey, and understanding your options can help you craft a heartfelt tribute to your loved one.

Grieving the Loss of a Pet

August 22, 2024
Pets are such a special source of friendship, joy, unconditional love and companionship.

Helpful Tips On What To Write In A Sympathy Card

June 28, 2024
Struggling to find the right words when sending a sympathy card?

The Basics Of Death Certificates Explained

February 20, 2024
Most people don’t give much thought to death certificates until they have a death in the family. A death certificate is the permanent legal record needed to prove that a person has actually died.

You Can Still Find Reasons To Give Thanks During Thanksgiving

October 13, 2023
Bring their memory to the table Serve up a tasty reminder by preparing some of your loved one’s favorite recipes. Give a Thanksgiving toast or prayer that acknowledges the role that they played in your family’s lives. Consider creating a centerpiece made up of mementos from their life for the table. Or go around the table and ask each person to share something they are grateful for about the person who has died. Do something together to honor their memory There are many Thanksgiving Day events that your family can participate in to honor your loved one’s memory. Sign up for a turkey trot or charity walk. Watch one of their favorite movies together. Attend a remembrance service. Donate food or money in their name. Help to serve a Thanksgiving meal to families in need. Continue to share your memories Every family has their favorite stories and memories that they tell that highlight the unique personalities of each member. Be sure to continue sharing your memories and reminisce about those that you have lost. Whether it’s at the dinner table or during the football game, simply talking about your loved one is often what we need most after a loss. Accept that this Thanksgiving will be different. Try to find the balance between moments of grief and moments of joy. Listen to your intuition and only do what you can manage. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing. Grief is hard and tiring. Get plenty of sleep and give yourself permission to let in some joy this Thanksgiving.

Why You Need To Keep Beneficiary Designations Up To Date

October 13, 2023
Who can be a beneficiary? In most cases, people name their spouse, children or someone who financially depends on them as beneficiaries. A beneficiary can also be a sibling, other family member, friend, charity or trust. There are two types of beneficiaries: primary and contingent. If the primary beneficiary is deceased, then the asset goes to the contingent beneficiary. Why is it important to designate beneficiaries? Beneficiary designations take effect immediately after death. Because of this, they override any instructions that may be in a will regarding the distribution of assets. Having beneficiaries named on an account circumvents the probate process and helps ensure that assets can be transferred to heirs without delay. Even if you write a legal will leaving the assets to another person, whoever is listed as the beneficiary on your accounts is the person who will inherit. Matching beneficiary designations with provisions in your will can ensure that your wishes are followed properly. Retirement account beneficiaries Even changing your job can necessitate updating your beneficiary. If you roll over your retirement account, make sure that the account lists the correct beneficiaries. Previous beneficiary designations generally will not automatically move with your assets. Provisions for beneficiaries vary from plan to plan and state law — some of which automatically eliminate former spouses as beneficiaries. However, for many employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans, these laws do not apply. A cautionary tale Suppose you married in your twenties, had two children and set up a life insurance policy, naming your then-spouse as beneficiary. Fifteen years later, you have divorced and remarried, and now, you have a child with your new partner. If you never updated your beneficiaries on your life insurance policy, your ex-spouse would inherit, leaving no proceeds for your current spouse or any of your three children. Take the time now to check that beneficiary information on your accounts is accurate and up to date. Updating your beneficiaries is simple, usually requiring filling out paperwork or making changes online. DISCLAIMER: Individual circumstances and state laws vary. Only undertake estate planning with the help and assistance of an attorney licensed in your state. If you need advice about designating your beneficiaries, talk to an attorney or estate planner to help ensure your final wishes are carried out.

Make Arrangements In Advance Online

September 26, 2023
You can preplan from the comfort of your home
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Brain Fog – A Physical Response To Grief

April 21, 2023
One of the more common physical symptoms of grief is “brain fog.” Brain fog happens because your body interprets grief as trauma and begins to shut down to protect itself.
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What To Expect When Preplanning A Funeral

April 21, 2023
Preplanning is not complicated. It usually takes about an hour of your time. There are several components to making funeral arrangements.

How to Help a Coworker Who is Experiencing Grief

February 22, 2023
Consoling a member of your family or close friends over the loss of a loved one can be difficult, but figuring out how to acknowledge that same kind of loss to a coworker or employee adds another layer of complexity. With family and friends whom you have a close relationship, you have the benefit of knowing that person and how you might help them manage their grief. You may not have that same level of familiarity with coworkers. A first step for managers or supervisors of someone who has experienced a loss is to make sure that your employee is aware of how the company (and you) can support them during their time of grief. Make sure that they know about the company's bereavement policy and any human resources support that are in place. In addition, let them know that you are aware that grief can have an impact on their ability to think clearly and perform their job duties. Flexibility is key to helping them. Everyone has struggled to manage the demands of work at one time or another. On average, U.S. employees receive four days of paid leave. Returning to work in such a short period of time can be challenging. Considering that the very real physical symptoms of grief, including ‘brain fog’ and loss of energy can decrease work productivity, coworkers can help by offering to assist them with some of their duties. Coworkers can also support grieving people by acknowledging their loss in person, with a note, or email. Whatever method you chose, it’s important to acknowledge their loss in some way. Remember to keep it simple. Avoid cliches about ‘being in a better place’ or giving advice. If you talk with them, don’t ask about details of the death, which can be upsetting. Simply listening is the best thing you can do. Don’t be tempted to share your stories of loss. Now is not the time to focus on your experience. It’s time to support someone else along their journey. If you don’t know your coworker well, be observant and take your cues from them. Judging as best you can when they are open to talking or when they prefer privacy. Most importantly, give them the time they need to deal with their loss. Grief doesn’t just magically disappear in few weeks or month. It ebbs and flows for a long time, sometimes even years. So, remember to periodically check back in with your coworker to see how they are managing their grief. 
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