Caregiving & Family Support Tag

By: Dr. Bryan Hooker, Hospice Atlanta Medical Director What do you think of when you hear the word hospice? You think “game over,” right? Well that’s not necessarily accurate. Hospice care, as a philosophy, focuses on the relief of terminally ill patients’ symptoms and pain while attending to their emotional and spiritual needs. Contrary to the assumption that hospice equals death, data shows that early referral to hospice actually improves life expectancy.

By: Chandelle C. Carter, Bereavement Coordinator For most, the holiday season is a time of delight, gratitude and hope. As messages of family, joy and togetherness abound, we become warmly nostalgic; we find ourselves fondly reminiscing over holidays past, and eagerly anticipating the new memories we will create. We are grounded by long-held traditions, comforted by the closeness of loved ones, and encouraged by the promise of the new year ahead. As the renowned song proclaims, the holidays have been coined “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” For those who’ve experienced the death of a loved one, however, it can be the most difficult time of the year. For many who are grieving, holidays hurt.

Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta, as a partner with We Honor Veterans, offers a program for our patients who are military veterans to be matched with volunteers who are veterans. We Honor Veterans is a collaboration between the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Veterans Administration and hospices around the country. Volunteers visit, swap stories, talk about shared experiences and lend a compassionate ear. Volunteers are specially trained to support patients and their families during the difficult time end-of-life brings.

By: Norene Mostkoff, President & CEO People are social creatures; we crave human connection at some level. Often, the elderly are shut out from the daily hustle and bustle of their family's busy lives. They can get lonely. Recently, a patient reached out to me with a question. After speaking with her, I realized what she really needed was just someone to talk to.