Blog

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
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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.
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.