Blog Archives - Hospice of the Golden Isles

How A Hospice Chaplain Supports Clients Who Aren’t Religious

Hospice teams consist of a network of providers who provide a range of care—from clinical and compassionate to task-oriented to 100% dedicated to our clients’ comfort and emotional well-being. Our hospice chaplains are a vital link in this chain of support.

While the title “chaplain” has religious connotations, hospice chaplains are not your average “clergy.” They understand and welcome the fact that our hospice clients and families come from a broad range of religious and spiritual traditions, including no traditions at all or 100% atheist. That’s just fine with us, and all are absolutely welcome!

The Amazing Role Of The Hospice Chaplain (No Religious Beliefs Required)

When you sign up for hospice service, you and your family are instantly supported by an incredible and versatile team. One of the team’s key players is the chaplain. The term chaplain is rooted in Latin (cappellus) and means “clergyman.” The 21st-century meaning of “chaplain” is entirely non-denominational, and many chaplains have never served as clergy for any specific institution. They are not concerned with whether or not you believe in God. They’re most interested in the well-being of your heart, mind, and spirit.

What Are The Qualifications To Become A Hospice Chaplain

Most hospice chaplains have been lifetime philosophers, theologians, and questioners. Even if their primary personal religion is rooted in Judeo-Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or other origins, they have an infinite interest in curiosity in every spiritual tradition. If you ask about their credentials, most hospice chaplains have a:

Bachelor’s degree.
Graduate-level degree in divinity studies, comparative religion, theology, or a related subject.
Deep understanding of the community’s resources, including religious/spiritual churches, temples, centers, other clergy, etc.
Respected position within their community’s spiritual and religious network.

Hospice chaplains may also have an additional certification in spiritual direction or spiritual counseling, broadening their experience serving people from diverse backgrounds. Depending on their personal calling, they may or may not have served as an official clergy member. Most importantly, chaplains are called to serve anyone in their time of need – whether or not the client views themselves as a religious or spiritual devotee. They disdain “exclusionary” structures, and the doors of their hearts are always open.

Core Ways A Hospice Chaplain Supports Those Who Aren’t Religious

Are chaplains there to read scripture or discuss religious beliefs, questions, and concerns? Yes! They are also there to listen to fears, concerns, and questions about what happens to the body or spirit when we die. But that’s not all they do. Perhaps more than anything, a hospice chaplain supports and serves clients by helping them to experience as much peace of heart, mind, and soul as possible in the last chapter of their lives – in whatever forms that may take.

Connect you with the right spiritual support

Just because a client is non-religious doesn’t mean they don’t need spiritual support. In most cases, our chaplain’s comprehensive knowledge of world religions, cultures, texts, etc., is enough to give our clients what they need. However, if it’s not a good match or a client is looking for a specific type of spiritual support, our chaplains work to connect them with the right person in our community or to find them online resources that can help.

Provide healing for religious trauma

Sometimes, clients who are not religious – or completely opposed to religion – turned away from the faith they were raised with due to a trauma of some kind, such as harsh doctrines, honest questions that were frowned upon rather than explored, or liturgy that seemed contrary to their experience of God. Or, they may have seen how twisted versions of religion harmed someone they loved. Chaplains provide a soft landing for clients to revisit that and release pent-up pain, anger, and resentment. They are adept at providing an open, honest, and non-reactive presence for those who need to express their experience and find some resolution or freedom.

Pondering the big questions

Even the most devoted of atheists may feel compelled to face the broader questions – and mysteries – of life and death. Chaplains are interested in the same things. Many of our non-religious clients appreciate our chaplains’ well-read backgrounds and their interest in discussing philosophy, the cosmos, and the human experience. This makes for satisfying conversations and interesting readings. Ironically, regular visits by hospice chaplains can be the “favorites” for non-religious clients.

Supporting the esoteric experience

One definition of esoteric is: intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest. This goes along with pondering the big questions. For those with a strong religious or spiritual conviction/practice, answers to esoteric questions are often answered directly – and specifically – by their doctrines or religious texts. That’s not the case for those who aren’t religious, and chaplains are excellent facilitators of esoteric conversations and queries.

Creating supportive, personal rituals around life and death

Chaplains are there to provide comfort and support to those who are dying and their families. Without a religious practice to fall back on, many clients are interested in finding their own rituals or ceremonies that help them honor their life, death, or moments of pain and strife. Our chaplains can draw on a wide repertoire of rituals and ceremonial traditions from a range of cultures and traditions. Or, after learning more about who you are and what is important to you, they can help you curate readings, poems, music, or practices rooted in your personal beliefs, feelings, and traditions.

Unconditional emotional support

Much of the emotional processing involved in facing the end of life is emotional. Inevitably, hospice clients spend a fair bit of time performing some version of a life review. Sometimes, this is a very inward process; other times, it’s done in conversations or while remembering family stories and events with loved ones. This process often leads to big questions, and your hospice chaplain can help you work through those.

Learn How A Hospice Chaplain Supports Your Loved One’s End-of-Life Experience

Are you interested in learning more about the chaplain’s role on your hospice team? Schedule a consultation with Hospice of the Golden Isles. We promise you that being missionaries or converting people to a particular religion has absolutely no part in what we do.

Hospice of the Golden Isles Receives Funds from the Terry Thomas Foundation

Hospice of the Golden Isles recently received the second installment of a two-year grant from the Terry Thomas Foundation. These grant funds are to purchase a much-needed new video server for the Hospice Home’s security system.

Hospice Provides Ambiance And Comfort Care At The Bedside

Keeping clients comfortable, cared for, and in a soothing environment is a top priority for hospice providers. We want clients to die surrounded by the things that bring them the greatest ease and peace of mind. One way to do this is by upholding the ambiance around the deathbed in the manner our clients prefer.

We do this in various ways, including creating detailed end-of-life plans that include a client’s wishes and preferences (along with what they don’t want) in the months, weeks, and days leading up to their death.

End-Of-Life Care: Providing Soothing Ambiance And Comforting Care

One of the many benefits of exploring hospice care in the earlier stages of a terminal diagnosis – or as life begins to wane for those in their late 80s or 90s – is the ability to create clear end-of-life plans. This includes the right to say what you do and don’t want in the time you have left. In the early end-of-life stages, when a client is still relatively active, this may include trips or outings to visit special people or places or spending as much time outdoors, or attending favorite events or social gatherings. Later on, when loved ones become housebound or bedbound, we work to create an ambiance that honors their ideas of comfort.

Use Your Five Senses When Discussing End-of-Life Experiences

One of the we do this is by thinking about the five senses, which usually remain with us right until the very end. Even if someone has their eyes closed or they are hard of hearing, they still have a sense of the world around them via shifts in light, vibration, touch, taste, and the energy of those who come to spend time with them. If you are one of our hospice clients, we’ll discuss these concepts when discussing your end-of-life plans, which may also include a vigil plan (who/what do you want to surround you when you’re actively dying).

What do you want to see?

The world shrinks considerably once a person is home and then bedbound. Therefore, we do our best to create a visual experience that brings them joy, peace, or comfort. If your loved one lives alone and family is far away, tending to pleasant and soothing visual esthetics at the bedside is a great job for a hospice volunteer. This typically includes things like:

Putting up pictures of their loved ones.
Hanging beautiful wall hangings or fabric if walls are relatively blank or providing a neutral background if their new space isn’t personalized (like in a common living area, nursing homes, or hospital environments).
Posting pictures of nature scenes if they lack a beautiful window view.
Hanging posters of their favorite natural environment or photos they/their partner took on favorite vacations.
Having live plants or fresh flowers in easy-to-see but out-of-the-way locations (high-quality synthetic flowers/plants also enhance a space if there’s nobody to tend to live or cut options)
Candles (we usually use battery-operated candles in facility environments or homes without continuous caregivers to ensure the flame is safely extinguished.)

A little visual appeal goes a long way toward comforting someone who can’t leave their bedroom space anymore. If a person is bed-bound for over a few weeks, consider changing things around and bringing fresh options into the mix so it doesn’t become stale or boring. When patients are actively transitioning into death, they may not want bright lights, so we’ll pay attention to body cues and use shades, dimmers, etc., to prevent light that is too bright or harsh.

Create a soothing ambiance and comfort care through music

This can vary so much from person to person and where they are in their end-of-life journey. Most of us prefer the same playlists we always have in the early days. However, if a person struggles with pain or discomfort or breathing becomes challenging, they may have a “soothing” or “relaxing” playlist option. Some clients want to have the windows or bedroom doors open during the day to hear the goings on in the world outside, while others prefer things as quiet as possible. Having conversations about how the “soundtrack” preferences may change as they get closer to death means loved ones know what to play – and when to play it – or what noises to keep at bay. Let the hospice providers know if they love live music or would appreciate visits from local musicians. We commonly integrate music therapy into our services, including instrumental or vocal music from volunteer musicians.

Taste needs vary from person to person

Some of our clients eat right up until the very end, but that’s more rare. Most of us experience a gradual wind down, and the appetite is reduced to the point that food no longer tastes good. Or, we may not have an appetite, so we only eat to please the people we love. Pay close attention and never force food on someone who’s walking the end-of-life path. They may still enjoy small sips of juice or beverages, smoothies, milk shakes, or flavorful broths if regular food doesn’t appeal. They might enjoy sucking popsicles or lollipops. Let them take the lead and honor their wishes.

Do you have favorite smells or scents that you like?

The scent of smell may become even more important during death than it was in the midst of life because other smells, like sight and hearing, can fade. Be mindful of the smells in a room where someone is dying. Things like heavy fragrances and perfumes may be overwhelming, and your loved one doesn’t have a way to control those if they’re no longer responding to stimuli, so be sensitive to that. Have conversations early on about their favorite scents. If they like freshly baked cookies, make some from time to time. While you’re loved one may no longer be interested in eating, they may still enjoy smelling some of their favorite foods. If this is the case, plan some family meals and cook together to honor their life and enjoy a meal with family and friends – even if the person who’s dying doesn’t want to eat. If they love the smell of fragrant blooms, open a window to the outdoors in spring or purchase some fresh bouquets. Diffusers and essential oils are another wonderful tool at a bedside, and scents can be customized or changed according to their preferences. Most health food stores or wellness centers have a nice supply of essential oils and blends you can use. Put a drop of essential oil on a cotton ball from sample bottles (using a fresh cotton ball per scent) and bring them home for your loved one to pick some favorites.

Touch and tactile sensations

Just as the remaining senses may grow keener before a person retreats into themselves, the skin may become more sensitive. We ensure our clients have soft bedclothes and bedding, as well as socks, to stay warm and avoid itchy or aggravating sensations. Keep in mind that everything slows down a bit as life wanes, so slower movements and soothing touch become more important as fast, hard, or sporadic interactions can be overwhelming or agitating. They may also appreciate things like massage or healing touch, an offering from a hospice volunteer services provider. People who live alone and can’t get out of the house or bedroom may appreciate visits from hospice volunteers who can hold their hands, rub their feet, or hug them. We also have access to hospice pet volunteers, which can provide great joy and comfort to clients.

Who Do They Want To Visit Or Connect With?

We’ve mentioned that people tend to retreat toward the end of their life, but it’s not always the case. And people can surprise you. Sometimes, someone who seemed somewhat outgoing or social wants to spend time alone or with just a few loved ones at the end – or vice versa. Talk about who your loved one wants to visit or connect with and try to make those arrangements. Digital technology has done wonders for allowing us to connect with people all over the planet without anyone needing to travel. That said, visitors’ energy and emotions can negatively impact the bedside ambiance if they – and caregivers – aren’t careful. Understanding how our personal emotional spectrum affects the dying is important to take responsibility and not hinder their experience.

Hospice of the Golden Isles Creates Supporting Ambiance And Comfort Care For Clients

Are you or a loved one facing an end-of-life diagnosis, or do you sense life is winding down? Schedule a consultation with Hospice of the Golden Isles. We’re dedicated to keeping clients safe, comfortable, and at peace at the end of their lives, always striving to provide a supportive, beautiful, and peaceful bedside ambiance.

Are Your Emotions Hindering A Loved One’s Dying Process?

Being fully present and honoring the dying person is one of the most invaluable gifts we can give to those we love. However, all too often, our own emotions get in the way, preventing loved ones from having the unconditional support they need to engage in their own dying and death process fully.

Your Emotions Can Negatively Impact A Loved One’s Dying Process

Your hospice team is there to educate, instruct, and guide you – and to bring a wellspring of support – to your loved one’s bedside. This is why enlisting hospice sooner rather than later is always better. When a spouse or well-meaning family members aren’t able to step back and give their dying loved one the space they need (or when they overcrowd the bedside with their own needs), it negatively impacts the person’s dying process.

Ways Your Denial, Anger, Sadness, Or Grief Hurts More Than Helps

The months and weeks leading up to a person’s death are overflowing with intense emotions and this is absolutely normal. Some of the most common emotions sparked by dying and grief are denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, and grief. When you unconsciously express powerful emotions when a loved one is dying without respect for their experience or needs, you may contribute to things that hinder them from being able to:

Accept that they’re dying.
Talk about their death or process their emotions around dying.
Express their wishes or create their end-of-life plans.
Have important conversations around things they need to forgive or take accountability for.
Be present at their own death (because they’re so busy taking care of your emotional needs).
Die in comfort because they’re constantly interrupted, forced to eat (more on that later), or made to feel as if they’re failing rather than surrendering to a normal part of the life cycle.

Let’s examine each of these so you can put yourself in their shoes and understand how important it is to manage your own emotions (again – lean on hospice support!) so they are a balanced and healthy part of the process – rather than a hindrance.

They don’t have a chance to accept they’re dying

Imagine knowing something about yourself, or at least having a strong suspicion, but then having it denied by everyone around you. It’s a very lonely place, and it’s a place that many dying people find themselves in when their partners, children, loved ones – and even clinicians – won’t be honest about the fact they’re dying. In his book Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity & Soul, famous culture activist, worker, and author Stephen Jenkinson writes, “We know without wanting to know it that knowing we could be dying somehow begins our dying.” The opposite is also true; not being allowed to know it or being blocked from the multifaceted acknowledgment that we’re now, officially, commencing the death journey keeps us from the meaningful unwinding process that inevitably begins when we’re able to fully acknowledge and surrender to our death. Expressing emotions honestly, but also supporting loved ones as they accept that this is their physical end, is one of the most profound things we can do. It also begins our own “learning” of what it means to die.

They can’t talk about their death or process the resulting emotions

Similarly, someone who isn’t allowed to spend time accepting that this diagnosis, ruthless pursuit of ineffective treatments, or combination of symptoms signifies the official waning of their physical life isn’t able to talk about their death. If you can’t talk about your death, you are burdened with walking a very inward, solo journey OR not having the chance to process what it is you need to process, discuss, or work out for more peace of mind and spirit when you die.

They can’t create meaningful end-of-life plans

Some of the most common things loved ones say that shut down a person’s death process are:

Don’t give up yet- there’s still hope.

Let’s not talk about that now; we can talk about that later.

You’re not dying yet, so just relax and don’t worry about that.

You’re not dying. You still have plenty of good years left.

However, if someone wants to talk about these things, they deserve to have unconditionally supportive spaces and outlets for that. Without the ability to share their experience, wishes, wants, and needs around dying, they cannot create meaningful end-of-life plans OR to change plans they put in place years ago but want to change.

They can’t seek or offer forgiveness or make amends

Dying is a clarifying process. There may be physical suffering due to whatever disease or condition brought you there, but it brings things into clear focus. To die with a clear heart, spirit, and mind, we need time and space to perform a life review. This happens when we’re dying and helps to create a more peaceful, active dying experience. During this process, people who are dying like to have important conversations with loved ones, and their loved ones deserve the chance to have meaningful conversations with them. Depending on the situation, the dying person may want support from a therapist or spiritual counselor, especially if amends need to be made in either direction with someone who is dead or no longer in the picture. We see over and over again how clients who have the space and time to do this deep work in the years or months/weeks leading up to their death die more peacefully and with greater physical ease.

Spend more time taking care of others’ needs than their own

As hospice professionals, we learn to keep our emotions in check. Do we feel sad, tender, and moved in our patients’ homes or places of residence? Absolutely. Do we get choked up or teary-eyed depending on the situation? Yes. But we don’t weep so uncontrollably that our clients and their families must comfort us. We are there to support y’all! Healthy, balanced emotional expression is always welcome from a dying person’s loved ones. However, if those emotions overshadow the dying person’s experience or hinder their need to express their feelings, it’s a problem. Pay attention to your feelings and how they impact the dying person. If it seems like your feelings are overshadowing theirs, or they’re no longer able to share their own experience because they’re afraid of upsetting you, it’s time to seek help from the hospice team to get the support you need.

They die with more discomfort and distress

Finally and most tragically, if your family’s emotions and needs eclipse your loved one’s dying process, they die with more discomfort and distress. That’s the exact opposite of what you want for them, right? Here are examples of how that happens beyond what we’ve shared above.

They don’t have hospice care in enough time to keep their pain or discomfort in check (are you the one resisting hospice support, or are they?)
They don’t have access to palliative care in their last six months (or more) of life, which adds considerable quality of life for most clients.
People insist on feeding them or coercing them to eat when they no longer have an appetite (this causes considerable physical distress if their body can no longer digest food).
They have guilt about the toll their increasing care needs take on their partner/family because they don’t have access to respite care and other services provided by the hospice team and volunteers.

HGI Supports Families Create Meainginful & More Comfortable Deaths

Are you struggling to accept that your loved one is dying? Do you recognize that your emotions are blocking their access to high-quality care but don’t know what to do? We understand because Hospice of the Golden Isles supports families like yours every single day. Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn more about our services. Rest in the awareness that we have the resources, information, and tools you need to walk this path with your loved one in a way that honors their life while allowing them to do the work they need to do to die with peace of mind.

Understanding The Emotional Stages Of Dying

Our contemporary awareness and honoring of the emotional stages of dying and grief are rooted in the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a Swiss-American psychiatrist. Made famous by her pioneering work in near-death studies, Kübler-Ross conceptualized five common emotional stages experienced by her clients facing terminal illness: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance (DABDA).

Support Dying Loved Ones: Understand More About Their Emotional Journey

Her influential work has been highly misinterpreted, leading to undeserved criticism. Those of us who work in hospice understand how instrumental this awareness is when supporting those who are dying, their loved ones, and their caregivers. Understanding what people go through when facing a terminal illness, imminent death, or when grieving the loss of someone we love provides insight into their shifts in moods or potential reactive emotions and behaviors. Building on the work of Kübler-Ross, other mental health professionals (like Alan Wolfelt, John Bowlby, Colin Murray Parkes, David Kessler, and others have built on her work, identifying additional ways of expressing the emotional journey inherent in the dying process.

The Famous Five Emotional Stages Of Dying And Grief

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about Kübler-Ross’s “Five Stages” is that they’re compartmentalized or that an individual goes through one of the stages, finishes with it, and then moves on to the next. This is not so. Instead, these are more like five emotional facets of dying and grief. Those experiencing them tend to move through them fluidly, rather than in a particular order, and can move back and forth – there may never be a “finishing” of them at all. Your hospice team is here to help you all remember and understand these stages so we can work together, providing whatever support the client needs.

Denial

While most of us logically understand we’re going to die, another part of us thinks, “Everyone will die but me.” As a result, denying that we’re dying happens to most people who know they’re dying – whether they’re involved in a traumatic accident, facing a fresh terminal diagnosis, or experiencing the final stages of a chronic health condition. Denial may look like:

Questioning a doctor’s expertise.
Blaming faulty testing or false diagnostic results.
Refusing to talk about a diagnosis, prognosis, or anything related to dying.

They may also experience:

Depression
Anger
Shock
Confusion
Loneliness

Supporting the denial stage

First, it’s not always easy to know whether a person is in denial or if they don’t completely understand the diagnosis/prognosis. Once you’re confident they’ve received the information clearly and understand their new reality, the best thing you can do is give the person space to process their emotions.

Anger

People frequently feel angry about dying, especially if they are younger, have unfinished business, or their diagnosis comes as a complete shock. When people are angry about dying, they’re likely to go into “why me?” mode or start to blame others for their situation. Clients may also exhibit signs of:

Frustration
Rage
Anxiety
Fear (anger is almost always rooted in fear)

Supporting the anger stage

This can be very hard on caregivers as humans tend to be the most unkind, reactive, and downright mean to the ones they’re closest to. Let your hospice social worker know if anger is showing up in overwhelming or dangerous ways. If a client is stuck in anger or anger is manifesting via rage, hospice social workers and therapists are here to help.

Bargaining

The Bargaining stage frequently overlaps with anger. The “why me?” question leads to trying to make things different. If only X would happen, then Y would/won’t. Or “I promise I’ll volunteer more in my community if this treatment can just let me live long enough to do so.” Someone in deep grief may bargain in ways like, “If I can just go back in time to redo that conversation/action…then this would be so much easier to bear.” Or, “God, if you spare my husband, I promise I’ll never snap at him again.” During the bargaining stage, loved ones may also feel:

Anger/rage.
Frustration.
Regret.
Sadness/depression.

Supporting the bargaining stage

You’ll notice a theme here: the best way to support any strong emotional stage is to be a silent, attentive listener. Fixing or providing advice, placating – they don’t work. Your job is to be there as a quiet supporter and companion. It’s best to leave therapeutic-type work to the pros. That said, you may identify an underlying emotion under the bargain. For example, if a dying loved one bargains, “If God would just let me live, I would be so much more patient with the ones I love.” You now know they feel regret and sadness about their impatience. You can witness that and see if they have anything more to offer. “I hear that you’re sad and regretful that you were impatient with loved ones. That must feel hard right now.”

Depression (profound sadness)

It’s a rare person that doesn’t have some amount of sadness around their death. Even people who are ready to die due to their pain, treatment fatigue, or a feeling their life is complete still feel sad about leaving loved ones behind or never seeing another beautiful sunset in this physical form. However, others may sink into a deep depression. This phase is grief at its most impactful. It can take people to very lonely, dark places that are almost a rite of passage, as it is only by moving through these strong emotions that they open up to experiencing joy, gratitude, and surrender. Depression may look like:

Not getting out of bed.
Retreating from people and activities they love.
Sleeping all the time.
Not eating (or overeating).
Self-pity

IMPORTANT NOTE: Most of these signs of depression in the dying also occur when our physical death is imminent. Read How Do We Know When a Loved One is Dying for more detailed information about the physical processes that wind down and what that looks like as a caregiver.

Supporting the depression stage

Someone who experienced depression before their diagnosis or prognosis is more prone to depression afterward. This can be one of the longest or most frequent of the emotional stages of dying. People need time to process. However, if you feel the depression compromises their quality of life for an extended period, speak to your hospice team or a mental health professional.

Acceptance

The acceptance phase is a gift of sorts, but that doesn’t mean painful visits from anger, sadness, or denial don’t also accompany it. Someone in the acceptance phase begins to look ahead to their death and is best able to plan how they want to spend their remaining days. Moments of acceptance open possibilities for the one who is dying and their loved ones. This is the window for creating thoughtful end-of-life (EOL) plans that align with what the person truly wants. Making EOL plans from anger, grief, or denial may mean hearing lots of, “I don’t care. Whatever you want.” or “Don’t do anything. Just bury me/cremate me and move on,” or “It doesn’t matter anyway.”

Supporting the acceptance stage

Perhaps the hardest part about supporting a dying person’s acceptance phase is that you may not be there yourself. If you’re experiencing anger, depression, or denial, they have to spend this phase feeling more alone, and without the support, they need to make the plans they want to make. Being able to separate yourself from your feelings and honor their acceptance and using other family, friends, or community professionals to process your feelings honors your loved one’s experience.

HGI Supports Clients & Families Through The Emotional Stages Of Dying

The emotional stages of dying are intense, but you don’t have to experience them alone. Reach out to Hospice of the Golden Isles and learn more about how our palliative care and hospice teams can accompany you through them, providing unlimited information, education, and emotional support.

The Role Of Palliative Care In Hospice

The word palliative means “relieving symptoms without treating the condition.” This is precisely the role of palliative care in hospice.

Palliative Care In Hospice Differs From Palliative Care

This can become confusing because there is an entire specialty, called palliative care, that helps to provide comfort care while a patient simultaneously pursues curative treatment for their disease. While Palliative Care and Hospice Care share a portion of their concentric circles, they are not quite the same thing. Palliative care as a specialty provides comfort care while patients continue pursuing curative treatments. It may be covered by insurance, but it may not be – but it does provide a whole-person approach to comfort and healing that is not always available from treatment specialists. Hospice is free to all qualifying patients, regardless of income, as it is paid for through Medicare. However, it is designed to bring whole-person comfort once qualifying patients decide to forgo or cease treatments. If you are struggling to maintain quality of life while pursuing treatments, we recommend reading our post, When to Stop Disease Treatment, and discussing it with your healthcare providers, spouse/partner, and loved ones.

Hospice Is Dedicated To Palliative Care At The End Of Life

If you’ve decided to stop pursuing curative treatments (medications and therapies to manage existing health conditions and symptoms are absolutely fine), hospice can provide invaluable peace of mind for patients and families. Rather than go it alone, with erratic support and information gaps between medical appointments, hospice care brings all of that to you – at your home, hospital, post-acute facility, or wherever else you live. From hospice physicians and nurses to medical aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and more – you and your loved ones/caregivers have access to all of the support and information you need. And, because hospice runs 24/7 nurse hotlines, you can get answers to immediate questions about how to best care for or handle a situation at any time of the day or night.

Hospice Comfort Care Looks Like…

The role of palliative care in hospice is multi-faceted, and our services are as varied as the people we serve. Ultimately, our goal is to help you get the very most out of each day you have left – and live those days as peacefully as possible. We can’t emphasize enough: the sooner you enlist the help of a hospice agency, the better as studies show that people who take advantage of hospice live longer – and with greater satisfaction and ease than those who wait too long or never use hospice at all. Here are some examples of what comfort looks like for our clients.

Healthcare and comfort wherever you live

For many clients, the rigorous schedule associated with a terminal or chronic illness (physician appointments, seeing specialists, lab work, filling/picking up prescriptions…) becomes almost as exhausting and depleting as the condition they have. Once you’ve enrolled in a hospice agency’s service, we bring everything to you. From visits to physicians, nurses, aides, and the rest of the hospice team (chaplains, social workers, therapists, volunteers, etc.), the world comes to you. Where you’re at. So you can make the most of each day and conserve your time and energy.

Receiving “durable medical equipment” where you need it

When you’re in hospice, any of the durable equipment you need is ordered by your hospice nurse and delivered right to your home – typically within a single business day or less. Durable medical equipment is a medical/industrial term used to describe all of the structural, medical, and furniture-like items that increase ease and comfort as physical abilities wane – or your body needs different positions/setups to navigate daily tasks. Examples include:

Beds that raise/lower/change position and alternate pressure to prevent bedsores.
Trays and tables that adjust to the heights or positions required for you and caregivers to access what you need.
Breathing support (oxygen – home and portable, nebulizer (breathing treatment support), cushions/supports, etc.)
Bedside or bathroom commodes.
Wheelchair/walker/canes
Orthotics
And so on.

Whatever equipment you need to be taken care of can be requested and is always approved if we can make it happen.

Accurate information and education

Some of the biggest discomforts around illness or end-of-life issues include the mystery of what’s what at any given moment. And, despite what it might seem like, Google doesn’t have all the answers – delivered by a compassionate human with hospice expertise. Once you’re in hospice, you have access to weekly visits from the care team (more as needed, depending on your situation) and a 24-hour hospice hotline. This resource is invaluable in those middle-of-the-night moments when you aren’t sure if what you’re experiencing is normal. Or, perhaps a brand new symptom seems to appear in a single day; whatever the case, hospice nurses are there to answer your questions, provide answers and insights – or instructions on what to try or do next. This level of access provides significant peace of mind because you know you are never alone!

Emotional and spiritual comfort

Living with a terminal condition is not for the faint of heart. It takes its toll emotionally and spiritually – as well as physically. However, the clinical medical world doesn’t yet offer much in the way of caring for the emotional and spiritual being. Our hospice social workers, chaplains, and grief support teams can meet with you regularly to listen, provide resources we feel might be helpful, companion you through the shadow times, and facilitate your process – whatever that might be. We are not here to tell you or teach you anything. Quite the opposite. We respect every client’s questions, concerns, doubts, and crises and share the space with them until they find their way back to a more ease-filled place. Clients who live alone frequently seek emotional or spiritual comfort by utilizing our hospice volunteers. These volunteers visit them to read, converse, share stories, listen to music, take walks outside, and otherwise find a bit of joy together that day.

Clarity around end-of-life issues and planning

We mentioned that “the mystery of what’s what in any given moment” is often the scariest part. This is certainly true for anyone facing the end of their life – whether in a month, six months, or several years down the road. The reality is that most of us die a slow death due to a chronic illness/condition or the result of “old age.” Regardless, the mysteries around all of it can be the scariest part. As your hospice team, we provide comfort by shining a light into that space as much as we can, including:

Learning more about what happens when the body is dying.
Real-time information about present-moment experiences and what they mean (for example, a waning/lack of appetite is normal, and it’s wise to respect that to keep the body free from food at those times as it’s not processing it well.
Knowing how to recognize active dying (when a person has a week or less, in most cases )
Helping you create personalized end-of-life plans if you haven’t done that already so you can rest assured things will happen according to your wishes.

We’re here to support your family

First of all, we want to be clear that by “family,” we mean anyone you care about who is part of your care team during this time. Sometimes, it’s truly a spouse or partner, children, siblings, etc. Other times, it’s a best friend, a former spouse/partner, or a dear neighbor. Regardless, the hospice team is here to support the people you care about most! Perhaps it is no surprise that many of our clients are far more concerned about their spouses/partners and loved ones than they are about themselves. Knowing that their caregiving team has hospice support is a tremendous comfort and alleviates the depletion associated with worrying.

Hospice Of The Golden Isles Provides Palliative Support Via Hospice Care

Would you like to learn more about how hospice provides whole-person comfort to our clients and families? Schedule a consultation with Hospice of the Golden Isles. It’s never too early to learn more about what’s available to you. These consultations are free, and you have no obligation to use our service. However, we experience the ease our services bring and hope that you and your family have the opportunity to use them when you feel it’s right for you.

The Ethics Of Hospice Care

Hospice is an incredible service that supports clients (and their families) when they’re nearing the end of their life. It is funded by Medicare to make it completely free and available to anyone who qualifies.

It is one of the most ethical, tender, and morale-centered clinical services in existence – and the Hospice Foundation of America, the National Association for Homecare & Hospice, and the millions of people who work for hospice strive to uphold high ethical standards.

The Ethics Of Hospice Care Are Anchored Around Core Themes

The ethical standards guiding hospice care, which are specifically designed to support clients and their loved ones, are anchored around eight core themes.

Patient rights & responsibilities

A copy of our commitment to patient rights and responsibilities is visible in all hospice agencies and available to clients upon request. Ultimately, hospice care is available to anyone who qualifies regardless of age, race, culture, gender, religion/spiritual beliefs, etc. And all of our services are completely free. Ultimately, patients are in charge of their care. We are here to serve them and honor their wishes while providing complete access to the full spectrum of hospice care support. Your rights and our responsibility to patients include the right to:

Appropriate and professional care relating to physician orders.
Choose their care providers (through hospice, Medicare/MediCal, or private insurance providers).
Receive the information necessary to give informed consent before starting any procedure or treatment.
Refuse treatment within the confines of the law and be informed of the consequences of his or her action.
Complete privacy and confidentiality (hospice is governed by HIPAA).
Receive a timely response to his or her request for service from the agency.

To read a complete list of patient rights and responsibilities, request a copy from prospective hospice providers during your initial consultations.

Relationships to other provider agencies

Hospice is not there to “take over.” Yes, clients must stop “curative treatments” to receive hospice but have complete access to prescriptions or therapies to manage existing conditions and relieve any side effects. So, hospice teams work diligently to collaborate with your current health team, specialists, or provider agencies needed to optimize your care.

Responsibility to governing bodies

Hospice is governed by Medicare and related entities that oversee and enforce our compliance with their standard medical, legal, and ethical guidelines.

Fiscal responsibilities

While hospice services are free to all clients, they are funded by Medicare and paid for by taxpayers. Therefore, we’re obligated to provide the highest quality services at the most reasonable expenses. It’s essential that those services are offered equitably and billed consistently with the amount and type of service provided. Other fiscal responsibilities we vow to uphold include:

The cost per visit includes only legitimate expenses
Never engaging in kickbacks or payoffs.
The salaries and benefits of the provider and administrative staff shall be consistent with the size of the agency, responsibility, and geographic location.

Our commitment to personnel

We bring the same level of attention to the ethics we guarantee to patients to our incredible personnel. Our agency knows that a positive, supportive, compassionate, and empowering company culture is essential to attracting and retaining top-notch personnel. Some of these ethical commitments we make to employees, staff, and personnel include:

Being an equal opportunity employer and complying with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Maintaining written personnel policies available to all employees and uniformly applied across the spectrum of our employees.
Providing continuing education and in-service training for all employees to update the knowledge and skills needed to give competent patient care.
Hiring adequate staffing to meet the needs of the patients to whom they render care.
Maintaining a pay scale consistent with the geographical location, as well as the employees’ education, training, experience, and length of service with our agency.

Additional Ehtics Exemplified By Hospice Care

All of those bullet points and attention to equitable employment, patient care, and treatment are critical. However, we want to also amplify the ethical way in which we provide care to our clients and families.

Hospice Takes A Whole-Person Approach

The Western medical/clinical model is slowly coming around to treating patients as whole people. However, much of what we witness is a very “one part” approach to medical care and treatment of patients before they come to our service. Once you opt to use palliative or hospice care, we are here to support more than your physical quality of life. Our team also assesses and supports your mental and emotional well-being. This is done via:

Continuous monitoring by our heart-full social workers.
Visits from spiritual advisors.
Grief support for you and your family.
Access to volunteer services that provide everything from companionship and respite care to grocery deliveries and plant watering.
Visits and services from any branch of your hospice team happen where you’re at, whether that be at home, in our hospice house, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living communities, etc.
Deliveries of all medications, durable medical equipment, and other supplies related to your clinical, hospice, or comfort care.

We are also here to help you make your end-of-life plans so you feel seen, heard, and witnessed as you work through the decisions that ensure you have a say in as much of your experience as possible. Also, you benefit from the emotional support you deserve to buoy you through some of the harder acknowledgments, decisions, and choices.

Experience Ethical Client-Centered Care From Hospice of the Golden Isles

Are you interested in learning more about palliative and hospice care services? Is your quality of life – or the quality of life for your caregivers diminished to a point that something needs to shift? Reach out to us at Hospice of the Golden Isles to schedule an assessment. There is no obligation, but you deserve the information you need to make the very best – and most ethical – choices for yourself and your loved ones.

Hospice Care And Dementia

Hospice care was initially designed for patients with cancer or other terminal illnesses. Unlike dementia, where patients can wind up in a decline that lasts for years, patients with cancer or terminal illnesses follow relatively predictable declines – especially after stopping disease treatment or when treatments no longer work.

As a result, hospice is built on a “six-month prognosis” model that doesn’t quite fit with most mid-stage or even many late-stage dementia cases. This means we can wind up with complications that are less common for a hospice patient with a

Understanding Hospice Care And Dementia

The first step to understanding hospice care for patients is understanding hospice eligibility criteria. These criteria are set by Medicare and include an attending physician (if they have one), and the hospice physician certifies them as terminally ill, with a medical prognosis of 6 months or less to live if the illness runs its normal course. This doesn’t mean you automatically lose hospice benefits if you don’t die in six months. In that case, the hospice physician does a reevaluation. You can renew hospice services if they feel six months is still a reasonable prognosis. We’ve had some patients who’ve been on hospice for one or more years because their diagnosis (advanced COPD, heart or lung disease, etc.) can take sudden turns or result in an acute death. However, we’ve also had patients who had to switch from hospice to palliative care because they improved so much as a result of their hospice care that their prognosis lengthened. Unfortunately, there is a large gap in the healthcare system when it comes to supporting patients with dementia – along with their partners, families, and caregivers. As a result, hospice agencies are doing all they can to provide families with the information and support they need.

Dementia & Hospice Care: When To Call For Help

When spouse and family caregivers are involved, the slow but steady dementia decline can become the proverbial frog in a heating pot of water. In the beginning, the combination of family caregiving – along with professional home care support or respite care – is enough. However, there comes a point when loved ones with dementia require more care around the clock, and increasing assistance with daily hygiene tasks, which becomes more than any one household can manage. This is the time when hospice can typically step in and help to take over the increasing challenges and tasks.

7 Signs it’s time to connect with hospice

Here are seven of the most common signs it’s time to reach out to local hospice agencies and learn more about what they offer and whether your loved one qualifies.

Your loved one can no longer walk, or transfer from a chair, standing, bed, etc. without support.
They can not get dressed or undressed without assistance.
They can’t correctly bathe or perform routine hygiene tasks.
You’re taking them to more frequent doctor’s visits or making increasing trips to the urgent care, ER, or hospital.
Incontinence and soiling themselves are not only the norm, but they can’t take care of the accidents without help.
They have trouble drinking, eating, or speaking on their own. In fact, without you there, they may not eat at all.
You are burning out.

Even if it isn’t time for us to step in, we can refer you to some of the area’s most qualified and compassionate home care teams. Then, we can partner with them when hospice criteria are met.

Benefits Of Hospice Care For Loved Ones With Dementia

There are so many benefits of enlisting hospice care to support the later stages of dementia.

We’re there for family, too

First and foremost, hospice is for the family, too. Your hospice team pays close attention to the needs of the client, but also to their primary family members. We’re here to provide information and education, orchestrate the delivery of durable medical equipment as needed, and provide any and all support we can. Plus, you have access to 24-hour hospice care support on the phone, so you’re never left alone – or wondering – no matter what time of the day or night.

Regular visits from hospice nurses and aides

Our hospice nurses visit according to the needs of the client. In most cases, these visits take place about once per week. Those visits may increase to two or more visits depending on the situation or as the client comes nearer to the end of their life. We also have a team of compassionate aids who step in to provide bathing, clothing and bedding changes, and general grooming needs.

Support from the extended hospice team & volunteers

Hospice care includes a multi-faceted team of individuals who are there as you need them. This includes our social workers, chaplains, and a grief support team. In addition to our professional hospice team, you also have access to support from our incredible team of hospice volunteers. We have volunteers able and willing to do just about anything, from providing a break to primary caregivers or grocery shopping to helping with gardening chores or walking the dog. Ask for just about anything that you need or could help with – and we’ll see what we can do.

Hospice Patients Don’t Always “Play by the Rules” When it Comes to Dying

We referenced this above, but it’s worth another mention. Unlike many terminal or chronic illnesses, dementia patients don’t “play by the rules” when it comes to the normal dying processes. For example, many of the things that quantify the end of life for a non-dementia patient (losing interest in the outside world, inability to complete daily tasks, or ceasing to communicate) are normal for dementia patients – even when they have many months or years to live. The dementia journey can be long, but hospice agencies are here to do all they can once your loved one meets the qualifying criteria.

Connect With Hospice of the Golden Isles For More Support

Are you interested in learning more about how palliative or hospice care can support you or a loved one with dementia? Do you sense it’s time to bring in additional support to improve the quality of life for your loved one, yourself, and the family? Contact Hospice of the Golden Isles. We believe everyone has the right to live out their journey with grace and dignity, free from pain. Our caring team provides the highest-quality hospice and palliative care that promotes our patients’ dignity, provides for their physical comfort and pain management, and is tailored to their unique social, emotional, and spiritual needs. We also provide caregivers with the support they need to care for their loved ones.

Music Therapy In Hospice Care

The use of music as a soothing tool is ancient, but the earliest references to music as a medical therapy were cited in the 18th century. Since then, schools, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, and hospice agencies have used music therapy to help soothe, calm, and restore their patients.

According to the American Music Therapy Association (musictherapy.org), music therapy is a research-informed service that uses music interventions to meet the psychosocial and physical needs of hospice patients. If you or your loved one appreciate music or use it as a tool for focus, relaxation, or emotional processing, speak to your hospice agency and see if their volunteers offer music therapy as an option. If you are in the process of choosing a hospice care provider, ask whether music therapy is an offering.

Studies Show Music Therapy Is Effective In Hospice Care

Studies show that music that appeals to the listener can have remarkable physical and emotional effects, including lowered blood pressure and heart rate, pain management (palliative care), decreased anxiety or depression, calmer breathing, and improved quality of life (NCCIH). Many hospice patients become homebound and then housebound, limiting their connection with their community and making it harder to focus on anything other than their pain, fear, discomfort, and loss of autonomy. Regular music therapy is a beautiful and natural way to provide invaluable comfort and support.

Music Therapy In A Hospice Setting

Music therapy can take many forms in a hospice setting; it doesn’t have to be hospice-led. That said, many hospice agencies have a vast network of community and regional musicians who enjoy volunteering their time to play or sing for our clients, so you may find that going through a hospice agency connects you with musicians you may not have been able to access otherwise.

You can have music therapy wherever you are

You can request music therapy in any setting where hospice services are provided, whether in a hospital or nursing home setting, a hospice house, or a home hospice environment. Depending on the availability of the volunteers or organizations offering music therapy, you may have it as often as once per week or on a bi-monthly or monthly basis.

Hospice volunteers often provide music therapy

Sometimes, music therapy happens via our own crew of amazing hospice volunteers. Anyone who graduates from our rigorous hospice volunteer training program provides a list of their talents, interests, and hobbies. Many musicians or singers love to play or sing for our clients. Or, some volunteers are music aficionados of a specific genre or just plain love music. In that case, they’re happy to visit clients once a week and bring a playlist of requested or suggested songs. They can quietly (or not!) listen to music together, which brings great comfort and solace to clients.

We coordinate with local professional musicians

Similarly, many professional musicians know hospice agencies offer music therapy and connect with us. We have everything from professional singers and traditional instrumentalists to musicians who can bring their harp, indigenous flutes, percussion instruments, and more.

Families also benefit from music therapy

Hospice isn’t just for the client. We spend a lot of time reminding our client families and the public that hospice is for the family too! Our team is here to support the client, their primary caregivers, and their families. Music therapy is a wonderful example of that. When you or your loved one schedule music therapy, whether it is a small acapella singing group or a solo musician, you’re welcome to invite your family to be there too. It can provide an incredibly moving experience as everyone gathers, connects, relaxes into the moment, and enjoys beautiful music together in the same space.

Create your own music therapy playlist

While hospice agencies and volunteers do their best to provide music therapy, we also recommend that individuals or families create their music therapy playlists. Live music is hard to beat, but if music therapy yields benefits like pain management, reduced anxiety or depression, and calmer breathing or resting, take advantage of that. If your loved one is still responsive and able to communicate, ask them what songs or sounds provide the most relaxation or pleasure and add those to the playlist. If they are non-responsive, pay attention to their body language and breathing rhythms if they are non-responsive. Look for signs of relaxation or relief (slower breathing, relaxed muscles, less fidgeting, smiles, attempting to sing or hum along, etc). Your hospice nurses and care team can also help you watch for signs that certain pieces or sounds (nature, rain, birds, etc.) have a positive impact.

Music can also be part of the end-of-life plan

Anyone working in the worlds of birth and death honors the parallels of these sacred transformations. Just as pregnant women create birth plans, many hospice patients like to make end-of-life plans that outline their wishes for when they’re dying and may not be able to express themselves or for their memorial or celebration of life. Music can play a role in this realm as well. Some of our clients put together playlists of music they want to play in the background when they are alone or actively dying. Some of these songs (or others) may also be a part of their memorial plans.

Ask Hospice of the Golden Isles About Our Music Therapy Program

Would you like to incorporate music therapy into your hospice care plans? Contact Hospice of the Golden Isles. We have an incredible network of hospice volunteers, including musicians who provide music therapy. It would be our honor to help make your hospice experience as comfortable and peaceful as possible.

The Role Of Pets In Hospice Care

Last month we highlighted all the ways hospice volunteers bring joy, ease, and enhanced quality of remaining life to our hospice clients. However, humans aren’t the only ones who bring warmth and cheer into our client’s households. Our four- (and sometimes three-) legged pet volunteers leave warmer hearts and broad smiles wherever they visit.

Pets play a huge role in the palliative and home care worlds, and we utilize our animal volunteers in a range of settings – from nursing homes and hospitals to people’s homes and our own hospice house.

The Sweet Connection Between Volunteer Pets & Hospice Clients

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is the “official” term for the service provided by hospice volunteer pets, and it comes in many forms. Some therapy animals spend their lifetimes by their companion’s side, serving as their eyes or ears. In the hospice realm, AAT comes in the form of companionship and comfort care.

5 Ways Pets In Hospice Care Support Patients

While the majority of our pet volunteers are dogs, we have access to a range of certified AAT animals so no allergy goes un-met.

In addition to dogs, we have access to:

Cats
Birds
Pigs
Rabbits
Horses (usually miniature!)

These pets play an especially important role for our hospice clients.

Relieve fear and anxiety

When people are asked what they fear most about dying, one of the top answers is “Pain.” However, we frequently notice that after the pain is relieved, some patients still experience quite a bit of mental anguish, fear of what it means to die, and anxiety about what will happen to their loved ones after they’re gone.

There are no medications for that type of “existential” fear. All we can do is listen, facilitated inquiry, and do what we can to relieve that generalized anxiety. Pets have a knack for meeting our clients right where they’re at any given moment. The simple act of being near a pet, petting them, talking to them, crying as they stay unconditionally close by, and feeling a connection helps lowers blood pressure and anxiety levels.

Pets in hospice care can soothe the grief of former pets (or human loved ones)

Many of our clients had pets throughout their lifetime and grieve their passing. For some, their last pet was their “last pet” because they felt too worn out or incapable of providing a full-time life for a new pet. Others have had to give their pets to family members or friends when they transferred out of their homes and into assisted living, nursing homes, or hospice houses.

Then there is the general grief experienced by the death of spouses, life partners, peers, or other loved ones. The warm, loving presence of a pet helps to soothe that ache.

The joy of non-clinical contact

Now, as compassionate hospice care providers, we try to keep the clinical out of our client connections as much as we can. Our mission centers around heart-full care – full of kindness, tenderness, and unconditional support – just like our volunteers (both animal and human).

However, something must be said about warm, heart-to-heart contact that has nothing to do with clinical care or diagnosis. Our hospice clients simply enjoy the quiet, caring presence shared between two loving beings.

Extra bursts of “feel good” hormones

Scientific studies show that when humans connect with pets, they experience the same elevation of “feel good” hormones – like serotonin, endorphins, oxytocin, and dopamine. According to Harvard University, these hormones not only feel good, they also benefit you physically and emotionally.

In addition to helping you feel more positive, connected, and filled with “warm fuzzy feelings,” these hormones are also proven to:

Make people feel more calm and relaxed
Relieve pain and physical discomfort
Boost feelings of happiness or pleasure
Encourage people to be more socially engaged and connected

While some of our hospice clients are surrounded by friends, families, and their own pets at home, others are living alone, far away from family, or are bedbound in a facility-style room. The role of pets in hospice care becomes invaluable, and our clients look so forward to when our pets and their human volunteer companions are scheduled for a date.

Reduce loneliness (and facilitate better communication)

It makes sense that pets in hospice care reduce loneliness for the clients who express interest in having a visit from a hospice dog. Some of our clients are introverts and not very talkative, but they are often comfortable speaking to volunteer pets. Others are very stoic or “hate to be a bother,” and so they won’t always open up about things they worry about or wish they had access to.

Our care team has learned to pay attention to these conversations when they aren’t too personal as we often learn more about what our patient needs, wants, or would appreciate by what they share with their volunteer pet companion.

Benefit From A Hospice Pet Volunteer Through Hospice Of The Golden Isles

Would you or a loved one benefit from visits with a hospice volunteer pet? Do you have a certified therapy animal who would like to volunteer for us?

Get in touch with Hospice of the Golden Isles, and we’ll connect you with the right people – or animals. In our experience, animals overwhelmingly display an innate sense of what our clients need, and we’ve watched miracles occur right before our eyes. We’d love to help you do the same.