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Past and current articles about Dignity House Hospice and the hospice movement in Lanark County.

 

As death approaches: palliative and hospice care

Posted Apr 30, 2009 By Maureen Bauer-McGahey

Perth EMC

EMC Lifestyle - "As death approaches we do not need to turn away in fear. Instead we can choose to celebrate life and join hands with those we love," - Ted Menten in, 'Gentle Closings'.

It happens to each and every one of us in our lifetime. A friend, a spouse, a grandparent or a neighbour is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Following the shock of the diagnosis, a family and the person who is ill, needs to navigate many end-of life decisions about their care once they have processed the impact of their diagnosis.

WHAT IS PALLIATIVE CARE?

This is end of life care that ensures the dignity of the individual person and their family during the dying process. Dignity is ensured when a person is treated as a person first, rather than a patient in a diseased body. In a palliative care setting such as a hospice, the ill person and their family are offered emotional, physical, and spiritual support as well as accessibility to continuous medical and nursing care. One of the key components to this care is pain and symptom control. There are many comfort measures that can be integrated into this holistic care.

Family members can be trained to help with some of the personal care and often there is a whole myriad of volunteers that can assist in this care including friends and family. Some hospitals do have a "Palliative Care" Unit in which the needs of the dying and their families are the main component of care. Often this care is as "home-like" as is possible in an institution. Family are able to visit and stay overnight with their loved ones at any time during the dying process.

Traditional healthcare emphasizes prolongation of life or a cure. But often traditional healthcare is restrictive and insensitive to the needs and concerns of the terminally ill. It is an institutional setting that is based on "curing the person" rather than allowing death to occur in a natural way without interventions. The physician's role is "to fix" a physical disorder, not to facilitate the transition between life and death. Some doctors are trained and specialize in "palliative care" in which they are concerned with keeping the patient as comfortable and as "pain-free" as possible in their last days.

WHAT IS "HOSPICE CARE?"

Hospice care is a philosophy of care in which the person is of primary importance and the disease becomes secondary. The illness is managed in some way, but the hope of a cure is no longer possible. A person can live in comfort until they die, cared for by family, friends and health professionals. Ideally the person is able to receive this care in the comfort and familiarity of their own home.

Hospice provides a safe and caring environment in which the family and the dying person are given control over their final weeks, days and hours of life. Hospice is set up in a home-like setting in which the person is kept comfortable in one's own environment or home. It respects one's right to die in one's own home surrounded by family and friends.

WHAT IS A RESIDENTIAL HOSPICE?

A hospice is a residential setting in which palliative care patients live their last days surrounded by their families and friends. This can be a great alternative for people who cannot continue to give their loved ones care at home perhaps due to their own health, age or limitations.

In many communities, a residential hospice serves a special need to die with dignity, respect and in a home-like setting. In the Perth area, there are now plans underway for a hospice called "Dignity House". It is a plan that is motivated by serving the needs of those in our community who would like to choose this unique end-of-life care.

WHAT IS A "HOSPICE"?

A hospice is a home where palliative or end-of-life care is delivered within a home-like setting. Ideally, hospice care is set up within the dying person's home in a supportive way.

Another key component to hospice care is spiritual care. There are many issues that need closure at the end-of-life and trained spiritual caregivers can facilitate this work with the ill person and their family.

Dealing with unresolved issues and facilitating the healing of relationships could help the person die a "good" or peaceful death.

Each person has his or her own unique process. Caring professionals and family members are respectful of this passage and want to be present to accompany the person whom they love. It is important to honour one's own life and ritualize or celebrate that whenever is possible.

For more information: see future articles in this series "Living While Dying" by Maureen Bauer-McGahey peacemoe@gmail.com and check out www.dignityhouse.com.

How to cope and take the journey day by day

Posted Jul 2, 2009 By Maureen Bauer-McGahey

Perth EMC

EMC Lifestyle - While driving home from our 'Writer's Circle' recently, I started telling a friend about some amazing people I had met while researching this article on Day Hospice. We agreed that this was a definite privilege of our craft.

As a visitor at both the Richmond and Bells Corners Day Hospice sites, I was welcomed into a warm setting by volunteers and participants. It did not take long for me to experience the community feeling here. It is a place where everyone belongs unconditionally.

When clients arrived for the day at such a program in Bells Corners, they meet in "Shalom Room" to catch up with each other. They tell jokes, and share pictures and stories.

There is always a card to be signed for a volunteer or client.

Elena confessed to the group that when she first came, she did not think this Day Hospice was for her. "Then I saw it grow," she admitted. "And realized hospice has a lot to give. Everyone genuinely cares about you and your illness."

It was five years ago that Friends of Hospice was founded to continue Palliative Care Services work that had been originally in a Hospice called Sylvia House. With a new Board of Directors, the idea of partnering with other locations initiated Day Hospice programs in Richmond and Bells Corners. They hired long time community nurse, Ruth Richardson to facilitate the opening of these two sites. Ruth's experience in community palliative nursing led her to teaching and the coordination of the Palliative Care Certificate Program at Algonquin College. She had both the energy and expertise to facilitate opening both Day Hospice sites.

What is the vision?

The mission of Day Hospice is to provide support as well as educate and empower those effected by or caring for a person with a life-threatening illness. It is based on a psychosocial model that meets the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual needs of these persons and their care-givers.

Who qualifies for Day Hospice?

Any person who is living with a life-threatening disease and is willing to accept care and support can benefit from this program.

First a referral is made by the client, a family member, healthcare professional, clergy or friend. If the person is referred by a healthcare professional, it is because they have been assessed and qualify at no cost to them, to be part of the program due to living with a life threatening illness.

BENEFITS

This program provides support and respite to the client, caregiver or family. The program is co-ordinated by a registered nurse and a team of dedicated and well trained volunteers.

Assessment of care and pain and symptom management is always available. Transportation is provided to and from the site. A meal and social time are shared.

Other services include volunteer visits, advocacy, education, transportation, end-of-life care, care-giver support and bereavement support.

What does a typical day look like?

- 9 a.m.: Volunteers arrive and prepare refreshments and lunch.

- 10:30 a.m.: Clients arrive with volunteer drivers or family.

- Social time: coffee, tea, refreshments. Share a story and jokes.

- 12:30 p.m. Lunch is served, special occasions are celebrated (birthdays, anniversaries).

- 1:30 p.m.: Activities or guest speakers. Examples: cards, puzzles, games, crafts, reading, assessments (when required). Alternative therapies offered: reikki, reflexology, art therapy, music therapy. Personal care: manicure, pedicure, haircare (at times).

- 2:30-2:45 p.m.: Volunteer drivers arrive and take clients home by 3 p.m.

(There is always a "quiet" area available with a bed for anyone who needs to rest.)

Mable, 96, was one of the first people I met. Mable told me that she joined Day Hospice from the beginning. She wanted to share so much about herself and the program. I marvelled at her incredible zest for life as she told me about her many interests that included working with tools, writing about the natural world and problem solving. "Most of all," she exclaimed. "What I really do in my life is build confidence in otherswith young people especially."

For more information: see future articles in this series "Living While Dying" by Maureen Bauer-McGahey, mdmcgahey@ripnet.com and check out www.dignityhouse.com.

Perth Courier May 21, 2009 Letter to the Editor:

Dear Editor:

I congratulate Rebecca Bowie and Community Home Support Lanark County for another successful Hike for Hospice, as reported in your paper last week.  The help provided to individuals and families living with palliative illnesses through CHSLC's Volunteer Hospice Visiting Service is invaluable to this community.  CHSLC needs and deserves our support.

This year's hike at Conlin Farm, sponsored by the Smiths Falls branch of Bayshore Home Health, was also great fun.  I was there as a member of the Dignity House Hospice Initiative.  It was good to see a variety of groups there focused on one communal goal: supporting the excellent work of the CHSLC in providing volunteer hospice services in Lanark County.

The goal of the Dignity House initiative is to establish a day hospice program in Lanark County and, eventually, a residential hospice program.  We are very fortunate to have a successful community support agency like CHSLC leading the way.  We feel it is vital to support their service and we encourage the clients of Lanark County to ensure the continued success of CHSLC's volunteer service.

Alanna Scanlon RN BA BScN
Project Consultant
Dignity House Hospice
dignityhouseperth@gmail.com

 

A Residential Hospice for the Town of Perth?

Alanna Scanlon RN, BA, BScN

The Perth Courier, July 17, 2008

Canada’s population is aging.  We will all age and will all face the end of life.  During our lifetime we will probably experience the end of life of people we love.  How we cope with their deaths and eventually our own will need to depend more and more on support from a hospice palliative care program. Residential hospice palliative care is becoming an increasingly essential service to cope with the growing need for compassionate, high quality and cost-effective end-of-life care. 

Does the Town of Perth need a residential hospice? 

The Board members of the Dignity House Hospice Initiative believe we do.  But first, what is palliative care, hospice and residential hospice?

 

What is palliative care?

The essential principles of palliative care include: Care requiring highly-developed medical expertise that focuses on controlling pain and suffering for individuals with a life-limiting illness, and care that is provided by a multi-disciplinary team that includes specialists that can meet the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of dying individuals and their families.  It is also end of life care that is patient-centered and that focuses on quality of life rather than cure of disease or prolonging life.

 

What is hospice palliative care?

Hospice palliative care is palliative care provided at home, in hospitals, nursing homes or freestanding hospice facilities.  It helps ease the transition from life to death for individuals facing death as well as for their loved ones.

 

What is a residential hospice?

A residential hospice is a freestanding hospice facility that provides expert palliative care within a home-like setting.

 

Does Perth really need a residential hospice?   As was previously stated, the Board of Directors of the Dignity House Hospice Initiative believes we do, and would like to see the clients of Perth and surrounding communities have one available to provide: 

·         Five hospice beds for palliative patients, therefore leaving five acute-care beds open at the Great War Memorial Hospital;

·         Four fulltime, and six to eight part time jobs in the Town of Perth health sector thereby contributing to economic development in the area;

·         Many volunteer opportunities to give back to our community;

·         24-hour registered nursing care for five patients at a cost to the Ministry of Health of Ontario of only $1500 per day TOTAL versus the acute care bed cost of $800 to $1000 per patient per day;

·         Specialized palliative and hospice care and support for both patients and families;

·         Support for informal caregivers thereby preventing caregiver burn-out and possibly two patients instead of one;

·         Reduced numbers of trips to the ER and hospital admissions to manage symptoms and pain; and

·         The opportunity for the Town of Perth to demonstrate itself as a caring community that wants to ensure their clients can die with dignity and with support now and for years to come.

 

Despite the challenges of bureaucracy and the inevitable pessimists that exist to keep us optimists on our toes, the Dignity House Hospice Initiative is building steam towards its’ goal to open a residential hospice in 2009.  The Dignity House of Perth Initiative Board of Directors, comprised of three registered nurses, one palliative care educator and one hospice volunteer coordinator, believes we can achieve this goal if we work as a community. 

 

Watch the Perth Courier for periodic articles on hospice and palliative care as Alanna Scanlon RN BA BScN, palliative care educator, and board member for the Dignity House of Perth Initiative helps debunk myths about residential hospices, and answers your questions about death, dying, hospice and palliative care.

 

Have a question about palliative care or residential hospice? 

Email:  dignityhouseperth@gmail.com

 

Want to learn more about the Dignity House Hospice Initiative, or wish to make a private donation?  Email us, or see our website:  www.dignityhouseperth.com