Blog

hospice winston-salem
Wednesday January 30th, 2013

Family and Medical Leave

Are you stretched thin, trying to work and care for your family member? You may be able to take job-protected time off. You won't get paid. But you are assured that you can come back to your same (or nearly the same) job. The national Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave time each year. You can use this time to address family or personal medical issues. It covers time off to
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday January 23rd, 2013

Is your loved one depressed?

We all get the blues now and then. But depression is different. It is more than a passing mood. Depression is actually a biochemical imbalance in the brain. It's not something you can just "snap out of." It requires treatment. In general, there are nine symptoms of depression. If a person experiences four or more of these symptoms every day, for most of the day, over a two-week period, medical professionals would call it "major depression":
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday January 16th, 2013

What is palliative care?

People with a serious illness sometimes experience distressing symptoms. This can be a result of their medical condition. Sometimes the symptoms are from the treatment itself!  That's when palliative care comes into play. A palliative care professional focuses on removing distress, regardless of the cause. What counts as distress?
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday January 9th, 2013

Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 12:00 – 2:00 PM Artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) can be a contentious issue in hospice, palliative care, and long-term care. This medical treatment has been identified as one of the most common ethical dilemmas in end-of-life (EOL) care. This educational program, produced by the Hospice Foundation of America:
Saturday January 5th, 2013

Choosing a complementary medical practitioner

Is Mom considering an herb-based remedy? Or perhaps you're wondering if acupuncture could help Dad's arthritis. Nearly 40% of American adults are turning to complementary and alternative medicine ("CAM"). You probably have heard individual success stories. But the risks and benefits of many alternative treatments have not been scientifically confirmed. And sometimes seemingly harmless herbs or supplements can actually interfere with prescription drugs.
hospice winston-salem
Wednesday December 19th, 2012

Supporting those in grief during the holidays

In past newsletters, we've talked about the holiday blues as you anticipate a loved one's final season. This year, we present touchstones for coping with the holidays after a loss. For instance, you may be comforting your mother as both you and she grieve your father's absence. Or you may be expecting a visit from a bereaved aunt or uncle. This is a fragile time of year. Use these tips to help support your loved ones through the season.
hospice winston-salem
Friday December 7th, 2012

Difficult questions...

As we face our mortality, whether death is in fact weeks or decades away, we inevitably come up with questions about life's mysteries: Is there meaning to life? What is the point if we are ultimately going to die? Do we simply vanish when we die, or is there an afterlife? Is there a Being, Existence, or Force that is larger than ourselves? Will we be judged for how we have lived? Why have we been given the conditions we've been given? If we are in pain, why are we suffering? If we know we are dying, what reason is there for hope?
living wills
Thursday November 29th, 2012

Wills and living trusts: In the event of your death

The need to protect your partner is a key reason to get your financial papers in order. You will want to be sure that he or she is not left high and dry, especially if you are living with someone without being married. Inheritance laws do not acknowledge unmarried couples; thus, you must specifically stipulate your wishes regarding your house or other assets. This is particularly true for same-sex partners because surviving family members may not be aware of the partnership or may be unwilling to respect the union.