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ElderCare Update in South Florida...ElderCare Update in South Florida...ElderCare Update in South

Palliative Care: Uber-communication and Time-Intensive Involvement

BY BARBARA R. FALLON at home, and eventually chronic illnesses at any age. change is upon them,” Dr. Romanello
with plans for an outpa- Serious or progressive illnesses such as explained.
Tracy Romanello, D.O., is a tient clinic. cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic Palliative care experts follow patients
unique hybrid of physician. “Our ‘customers’ are obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and their families on a trajectory where
A dual board-certified family physicians, patients and dementia, Parkinson’s, hereditary or age- choices may be made concerning anything
practitioner and palliative their families. We spend related diseases are often accompanied by from side effects of medication to de-esca-
care physician, she (like most time talking to them and pain, depression, shortness of breath, lating medical options. Palliative care is
palliative care providers) listening so patients and fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of available for all ages, treating congenital
experienced a loved one’s their caregivers under- appetite, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and issues in pediatric patients to age related
journey through a life-threat- stand all treatment other symptoms that cause distress. In physical and behavioral health disorders in
ening illness. She experi- options and choices. We addition to medical care to lessen or allevi- adults. Significant due to the aging demo-
enced loss at a young age and explore our patients’ per- ate the symptoms, palliative experts can graphics and lifestyles in South Florida,
was inspired to make a differ- sonal goals in order to provide emotional and spiritual resources while recognizing the impact on home life
ence in how healthcare is Dr. Tracy Romanello match the most advanta- to enrich the lives of those receiving care. in a variety of cultures, patients may live in
rendered. geous treatment options The palliative team will monitor medica- group homes, assisted living or nursing
Palliative care teams pro- and coordinate realistic tions, therapies, nutrition, and social homes, alone or in a multi-generational
vide a much-needed extra care plans with all resources (housing, financial, emotional) home setting, a palliative care plan takes
layer of support from a clini- involved,” Dr. Romanello to address symptoms and help patients the entire environment into consideration.
cal and psycho-social aspect explained. gain the strength to carry on and improve Patient-centric support is core to Holy
when a patient is diagnosed According to Roman - the quality of daily life. Cross Hospital values. “Because we are
with a life altering – but not ello, the biggest need is a Communication and timely interven- affiliated with Catholic Health Services, we
necessarily terminal-disease. clear understanding of tion are hallmarks of palliative medicine. have referral resources to address many
Dr. Romanello is the the differences and over- “No matter how time-intensive a care ‘social gaps’ including legal, housing,
Medical Director of Catholic lap between hospice and plan is, I never look at the clock while talk- nutritional, financial, transportation and
Hospice and Catholic palliative care. Hospice is ing with my patients,” Dr. Romanello said. social services in addition to clinical and
Palliative Care Services. a subset of palliative care “Unfortunately, the luxury of time is not spiritual care to impact the quality of life,”
Catholic Palliative Care that addresses end-of-life commonplace in the reality of medicine Dr. Romanello explained.
Services is a physician-based clinical and emotional today, but a palliative provider makes the No doubt, dealing with all aspects of
practice in partnership with Dr. Tracy Romanello with needs. Hospice patients time,” she said. patient care can be taxing, but personal
Catholic Hospice at Fort patient June Sragow. have a life limiting prog- The objective is to reconcile all involved and professional fulfillment is sparked on
Lauderdale’s Holy Cross nosis of six months or with care plan goals to support the patient a daily basis. “We may help simply by
Hospital, part of Trinity Health. This group less. Palliative care is designed to provide and empower him/her with control over holding a patient’s hand as they face diffi-
of 8 physicians in conjunction with a full- long term advanced planning and expert their life. culties or by discharging a patient, feeling
time team of nurse practitioners, social symptom management alongside cura- Early intervention is beneficial to pro- in control of their future, thanks to a
workers, care navigators, chaplains and tive care plans. These care plans promote vide optimal care and a calming peace of detailed palliative care plan,” Dr.
allied care professionals has recently patients and families being in control in mind. “As an advocate for the patient we Romanello said.

teamed with the hospital’s palliative care defining their goals and making health- inquire about plan direction in advance of For more information, visit
program to address the clinical and educa- care decisions. They are ultimately functional, financial or spiritual status Catholichospice.org or call
tional needs of patients who might benefit designed to prolong and to improve the changes. We can then have strategies and (305) 351-7086 for 24/7 referrals.
from this type of care either in a hospital, quality of life for patients with severe and steps in place before the stress of the actual

VA Exercise Program Helps
A Note for a Memory
Elderly Veterans Get Fit
There are few things in our lives that are uni-
versal; one of them is music. Somewhere or
somehow, someone around the world is listening A new program at the West Palm
to a song that moves and speaks to them. As Beach VA Medical Center is restoring
many have said before, music is a universal lan- the health and wellness of our Nation’s
guage. Death is also universal; which is difficult veterans.
and heartbreaking, yet it’s a universal affliction Motivation to Move (MTM) is an
everyone will encounter at one point or another. exercise program designed to fit the
In Hospice, music and death are combined needs of military veterans in the med-
through Music Therapy. ical center’s Community Living Center
Music Therapy is an established clinical and (CLC) – the VA version of a nursing
evidence-based health profession in which music home. The MTM program was started
is used therapeutically to address physical, emo- in January of this year by Recreation
tional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals BY LAURA-MARIA CHAMI Therapy Assistant Leyna Lloyd and an
(AMTA, 2019). With hospice in mind, board cer- MM, MT-BC, NMT interdisciplinary workgroup that
tified music therapists (MTBC) come to aid in includes the facility nursing and physi- U.S. Air Force veteran Arnold Fliegelman
decreasing pain, anxiety, increase relaxation and cal therapy team members. Lloyd was (center) credits the program with helping
engagement, as well as improve cognition and speech. Most importantly, music tapped to develop the program by West him to improve his walking ability and trans-
therapy’s main goal is to improve the quality of life for Hospice patients. Palm Beach VA Medical Center Director fer to his bed with little to no assistance.
Medical professionals tell families that hearing is the last to go, so communica- Donna Katen-Bahensky in an effort to Pictured with Fliegelman are Roosevelt
tion with their loved one is highly encouraged. When a MTBC comes to see a prevent falls among residents living in Walker, restorative aid and Leyna Lloyd,
patient and their family, several things occur. Through patient preferred music, the CLC. Lloyd, who has been working
communication is strengthened along with the relationships between the patient at the medical center for eight years, recreation therapy assistant.
and family members because everyone is engaging together through song. was more than happy to oblige.
Music is a powerful thing that is so universal, that people forget how much it’s “The veterans here in the CLC are like my extended family and I’m always looking
a part of their lives until it’s presented in front of them. The song the MTBC sings for ways to help improve their quality of life,” she explained. “I’ve seen many of them
might take someone back to that summer ‘69 with the Beatles, or that time Jim lose their motivation over the years to stay physically active, so I developed a program
asked Sue to dance for the first time while “Fly me to the Moon” was playing, or that could focus on improving their physical as well as their mental health and stabil-
that time mom sang “You are my sunshine” every night as a lullaby. Music may ity.”
help physically; but it heals the heart and soul just as much. MTM sessions are offered weekly and help veterans focus on improving muscle
strength, definition, flexibility, balance and agility; increase energy and stamina;
Laura-Maria Chami is a Music Therapist at Catholic Hospice Inc. improve mood; and decrease stress, anxiety and depression. The program has been a
hit among CLC residents and has even helped some get out of their wheelchairs and
onto their feet.

16 June 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News