Page 5 - the pulse spring 2019 e-magazine about Whidbey Health on Whidbey Island

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Choices, continued

Hospice Care

Hospice provides care and guidance for an “We have much better tools today to Your
individual, and their family and friends, at the maintain a patient’s comfort,” Sanders says. Hospice
end-of-life. End-of-life is defined as having a
“likely” prognosis of six months or less. “And the care teams are highly-motivated, Team
very skilled and passionate.”
Diane Fiumara RN, BSN, manager of n A medical director
WhidbeyHealth Hospice Care, gently Hospice provides a multi-disciplinary team
suggests that there should be more of a that is focused on patient and family goals, n Nurses
willingness to talk about death; our own and how best to achieve these goals. The n Aides
death. team is ever present to provide support in a
holistic manner. Facing the end of life is often n Social workers
“We all die and this is really OK,” Fiumara riddled with complex emotions in addition to
says. “In our society, death is a taboo topic changes to one’s physical self. n Volunteers
and I think it shouldn’t be. After n Spiritual care
witnessing many deaths, I find it “Here at WhidbeyHealth, I have never and bereavement
miraculous, and I truly believe “Acceptance worked with a more dedicated, specialists
there is so much more than of death empowers caring or hard-working group of
meets the eye.” you to live.” people,” Fiumara says. n Physical and speech
therapy specialists
Hospice Care provides ~ Jerald Sanders, MD If hospice can educate patients and supplement the team
needed medical equipment families about what to expect and when needed
to assist with a patient’s safety help them control symptoms, there is more
and comfort. Current medications, as well likely to be a peaceful death with dignity.
as those prescribed after hospice care are Medical technology is a wonderful thing; What They
generally covered. Hospice also provides but it does not confer immortality, and Can Do
personal care supplies that may include sometimes may prolong a life only to allow
briefs, wound-care dressings, lotions, etc. suffering to persist. This support varies
Care can be wherever “home” is, including: “Hospice is about understanding one’s according to patient
n A home residence goals and helping the patient and family to needs and goals, but
n An assisted-living facility achieve them,” Fiumara says. often consists of:
n A skilled-nursing facility “In the end, it’s about choices.” n Teaching medication
n An adult-family home administration
Jerald Sanders, MD is the Medical Director
at WhidbeyHealth Hospice Care and n Education on what
to expect and how
encourages preparation when it comes to
end-of-life. to prepare for these
changes
Many people fear “hospice” as they see it Choices, continued next page
indicating imminent death. The hospice care n Assistance with
team hopes to empower the patient and obtaining needed
family to live each day with as much comfort resources
and dignity as possible.
n Spiritual care
“Acceptance of death empowers you to live,”
Dr. Sanders says. n Personal care (such
as assistance with
He also says that death is all about the bathing)
choices you make in life. Today Palliative and
Hospice Care is very different than it was just
20 years ago.