Blog

hospice winston-salem
Thursday January 15th, 2015

Music eases dementia care

When caring for a relative who has moderate to advanced memory loss, it can sometimes seem like they have disappeared into their own world. How do you create connection and support their quality of life when they seem capable of so little? Music is proving to be one good answer to this challenge. Research shows that music is processed in parts of the brain that remain lively long after a person's ability to "name that tune" is gone. Hearing familiar songs brings up old memories, essentially reconnecting a person to his or her sense of self and to times past.
hospice winston-salem
Thursday January 8th, 2015

Talking about funeral plans

One of the comforts at a time of death is knowing you are memorializing your relative according to his or her wishes. But there can be discomfort in bringing up the topic for discussion in advance. Getting started Choose a time when both of you are relaxed and don’t have other pressing business. Use a soft start to bring up the subject.
hospice winston-salem
Thursday December 11th, 2014

Seniors having fun online

When you read about "successful aging," the focus is often how well an elder has maintained physical health. How mentally sharp he or she has remained. How much he or she has stayed socially engaged. Without doubt, studies link seniors' quality of life with physical, mental, and social activity. But what happens when your loved one loses the ability to pursue physical exercise? When social options are limited by lack of transportation? When memory problems make it harder to engage with favorite hobbies or interests?
hospice winston-salem
Thursday December 4th, 2014

Gifts for those with memory loss

Deciding what holiday gifts to give a person with memory loss can be challenging. Following are some tips to share with family members. The gift of time: A special date to share cookies and send holiday cards to others A time to share and wrap gifts (before the rush) Attending seasonal music events or caroling together A person with early-stage memory loss is often still striving to do his or her usual activities. Gifts that provide reminder systems or simplify daily tasks are useful.
hospice winston-salem
Thursday November 13th, 2014

Gifts for those with memory loss

Deciding what holiday gifts to give a person with memory loss can be challenging. Following are some tips to share with family members. The gift of time: A special date to share cookies and send holiday cards to others A time to share and wrap gifts (before the rush) Attending seasonal music events or caroling together A person with early-stage memory loss is often still striving to do his or her usual activities. Gifts that provide reminder systems or simplify daily tasks are useful.
hospice winston-salem
Thursday November 6th, 2014

Medical Concerns

Like most family members, May wanted to do everything she could for her husband. She had never before taken care of a person with a serious illness, and the process was all very new to her. The things he had found agreeable in the past were not helping now. She was especially distressed that he would not eat.
Tuesday November 4th, 2014

Fall Circular 2014

The Fall Circular 2014 includes: (Click here to read the Fall Circular 2014)   Got Plans?, November is National Hospice Month, Annual Light Up a Life Ornament Celebration, From the desk of Linda Darden, CEO/President, Remembering Helps Healing, A Brighter Holiday, Winston-Salem State Parade Float, Hospice & Palliative CareCenter - Your "Hospice" for 35 Years, Bermuda Run – A Legacy of Support, 2014–A Year-Long Celebration of 35 Years, Create Your Legacy at The Hospice Foundation, What Do Cowboy Boots and Golf Cleats Have In
kbr
Thursday October 23rd, 2014

Honoring the veterans in your life

On Veterans Day we traditionally honor those who have served. Your relative may be a veteran. Or he or she may have been close to veterans who are now gone. This year, consider paying tribute by renting the movie "Honor Flight." Watch the movie together. It's about a town that decided to honor its aging WWII vets. The town paid for them all to visit the WWII memorial in Washington, DC. It is a powerful and touching movie. It may give you insights about your loved one's past.
hospice
Thursday October 16th, 2014

Unwanted odors

Some elders worry that they have an offensive odor (or their house does) and they don't know it. As it turns out, starting at about age 40, a natural fragrant compound is found in the sweat and skin that increases over time. It's not a bad smell, per se. Just one that is uniquely identifiable as pertaining to older adults. Older adults do lose the sense of thirst, so they are often dehydrated. This leads to stronger odors of the mouth, of the urine, of the skin.