Blog

hospice winston-salem
Thursday October 2nd, 2014

Myths and facts about pain medicine

Many patients and families have inaccurate notions about prescription drugs that relieve pain. "Palliative care"—the medical discipline of making comfort a priority, especially at the end of life—is a relatively new field. As a consequence, people often make medication decisions on the basis of an incomplete understanding of the issues. The following are some of the most common myths about the use of opioids for pain relief:
hospice winston-salem
Thursday September 25th, 2014

What about your special needs sibling?

Is your aging parent still caring for your disabled brother or sister at home? Perhaps this care arrangement has worked fine for decades. But with your parent’s aging, it's not too soon to start talking about your sibling's future. Preparing now eliminates the potential for crisis and unnecessary stress. The basics of care. The “future” can come very suddenly. If your parent has a health emergency, it will likely put you in charge. Assemble a binder to organize your sibling’s information:
hospice winston-salem
Thursday September 18th, 2014

Use your mind to combat stress

Ever feel there is just too much on your plate? It’s common to assume that feeling better is right around the corner, just as soon as you get everything done. But when the “to do” list is infinite and your personal motor is always “on,” you are more likely to achieve breakdown sooner than completion.  
kbr
Thursday August 28th, 2014

Hiring help yourself

Hiring someone to help with caregiving can be a great relief. If you do it without an agency, however, it makes you an employer. Are you ready for the responsibilities? Verify knowledge, experience, and work habits. Your vulnerable loved one will be dependent on this employee. Ask for verification of training or classes taken. Talk to prior employers. Do not accept written references in lieu of a conversation.
hospice
Wednesday August 13th, 2014

Important Decisions: Financial and Health Care Planning

Death and dying are not topics we talk about easily in our culture. As a general rule, in fact, we avoid them, almost as if to talk about them would bring on a premature demise. As a result, many families are unaware of their loved one's wishes at the end of life and are faced with making difficult decisions. This can lead to family discord and can make a trying situation even harder than it already is.
hospice winston-salem
Tuesday August 5th, 2014

Health care planning

Health care planning is the process of deciding what you want to include in your advance directive. Once you get past initial feelings of discomfort, you may find that it is a relief to talk about these matters and clarify your attitudes and beliefs. It is ideal to talk with friends, family, and health care providers about your end-of-life choices. It's even better to put your wishes in writing. You can prepare for this process by following these steps: