Millcreek Home Health and Hospice is pleased to present our first in a series of guest authored articles on health issues that we treat every day. The following is contributed by Rachel Gilner of The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
Cancer has become a household name in current times. More and more people are being affected by cancer, either on a personal level or by someone they know. There are now so many different forms of cancer, many of which go unrecognized due to their rarity. One of these rare forms of cancer is mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can develop after asbestos fibers are inhaled and attach to the mesothelial lining of the lungs. It is considered a silent but deadly cancer because of how it presents itself. The latency period can take between 20 to 50 years for symptoms to develop. By the time symptoms are present and the diagnosis has been made, mesothelioma is often in an advanced stage. Currently, there is no proven cure for mesothelioma.
There are options that are available to help make those affected more comfortable in the process.
As there is no cure for mesothelioma, and it is extremely aggressive, hospice and palliative care have become important for these patients. There are therapies that can help improve the life quality of mesothelioma patients. A few of these therapies include:
Hospice and palliative care are there to help ease and improve patient comfort level. Mesothelioma is associated with abdominal pain, chest pain, and shortness of breath. As a result, keeping the patient comfortable is crucial. Hospice not only cares for the physical ailments patients have, they also tend to the emotional, social, and spiritual state of the person. Family and peer support is also offered through counseling, and group therapy. Hospice also is able to help with the final wishes of their patients, including last will and testaments, power of attorney, and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. Hospice and other palliative care programs create a comfortable transition to end of life care for suffering patients.
For more information on mesothelioma and asbestos related disease, visit our website.
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Millcreek Home Health and Hospice in the top 3% hospice care facilities nationwide. We provide home health and hospice care services in Salt Lake City, UT. Follow our blog for information on elder care, hospice care and home health care.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Employee Spotlight: Patient Care Coordinator Vicki Tracy, RN
Vicki Tracy, Registered Nurse, (RN, BSN)
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Employee Spotlight: Peggy Riedesel, PT, CWS
Peggy Riedesel
Physical Therapist & Certified Wound Specialist
Ms. Riedesel is a practicing physical therapist with 25 years of experience. Since earning her certification as a Wound Specialist through the American Academy of Wound Management in 1999, Ms. Riedesel has worked in acute out-patient and private practice settings, working closely with physicians, vascular and plastic surgeons, and other specialists addressing complex wounds.
Ms. Riedesel is well respected and her services are in high demand throughout the local health care community. Her expert services allow Millcreek Home Health and Hospice’s patients to receive specialized wound management without the overly taxing effort and fall risk associated with leaving home.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Another Touching Note of Thanks
I'm afraid we are going to sound like we are bragging! Here's another note from a patent's family. Millcreek's Hospice team is always honored and pleased to care for someone in their final days, but this lovely woman was especially dear to our hearts.
To the angels at Millcreek Home Health and Hospice:
We wanted to thank you for the gentle, loving care that you gave out mother while she was under your care. We felt comforted knowing that she was being looked after by competent, understanding caregivers.
Christie was especially comforting when she stayed with our family and talked us through Mother's last moments.
I wish words better expressed our feelings, as "thank you" doesn't seem good enough.
-The family of Mrs. H.
Thanks for letting us know we were helpful and made things easier for you! We loved caring for your Mother.
To the angels at Millcreek Home Health and Hospice:
We wanted to thank you for the gentle, loving care that you gave out mother while she was under your care. We felt comforted knowing that she was being looked after by competent, understanding caregivers.
Christie was especially comforting when she stayed with our family and talked us through Mother's last moments.
I wish words better expressed our feelings, as "thank you" doesn't seem good enough.
-The family of Mrs. H.
Thanks for letting us know we were helpful and made things easier for you! We loved caring for your Mother.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Another Great Thank You
This one comes from a home health patient's wife and caregiver. She has some really nice things to say about our wonderful nurse Monica, who among her many talents, is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist.
Dear Millcreek,
I don't always say the right things but I do want to let you know how wonderful Monica has been to our family. She has been coming to our home 3 days a week for the last two months. To do lymphedema wraps and massaging for my husband. She has always been professional and caring with us. She never talked down to either one of us. Including our children. If she was ever late (which was RARELY) she called. And if we ever needed to call her she always returned our calls promptly.
Monica is a great nurse and a friend. We both felt very comfortable with her. She is funny and honest and helped us a great deal. She is more like a friend than a professional care giver. We can't say enough about her.
My husband went back to work last week and so far so good. If we EVER need home health care again Millcreek will be the first one we call and Monica will be the one we request. It's really different on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays without her. We always looked forward to seeing her. She is more like a friend than a nurse. She took pictures and always explained things to us as she was doing them. She taught me and our son how to do the wraps for him. She went above and beyond the nurse part we felt. She looked things up for us , especially with the diabetes care. She is gentle and never made us feel intimidated by what she was doing. We will miss her for sure. Thank you!
Sincerely,
S. P.
Big thanks to this lovely family, especially our patient, who worked so hard to meet his goals and get back to work.
Dear Millcreek,
I don't always say the right things but I do want to let you know how wonderful Monica has been to our family. She has been coming to our home 3 days a week for the last two months. To do lymphedema wraps and massaging for my husband. She has always been professional and caring with us. She never talked down to either one of us. Including our children. If she was ever late (which was RARELY) she called. And if we ever needed to call her she always returned our calls promptly.
Monica is a great nurse and a friend. We both felt very comfortable with her. She is funny and honest and helped us a great deal. She is more like a friend than a professional care giver. We can't say enough about her.
My husband went back to work last week and so far so good. If we EVER need home health care again Millcreek will be the first one we call and Monica will be the one we request. It's really different on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays without her. We always looked forward to seeing her. She is more like a friend than a nurse. She took pictures and always explained things to us as she was doing them. She taught me and our son how to do the wraps for him. She went above and beyond the nurse part we felt. She looked things up for us , especially with the diabetes care. She is gentle and never made us feel intimidated by what she was doing. We will miss her for sure. Thank you!
Sincerely,
S. P.
Big thanks to this lovely family, especially our patient, who worked so hard to meet his goals and get back to work.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Millcreek's favorite thing: a good end of life experience.
Today Millcreek Home Health and Hospice received a beautiful thank you letter from the family of one of our dear hospice patients. Nothing gives our team more pleasure than knowing that we've made the end of life transition easier, more comfortable and more peaceful!
To our support group at Millcreek Hospice-Paige, Heather, John Esther and Angel,
My sisters and I would like to thank you for all your compassionate care and support. We first contacted Millcreek on a Sunday to arrange care for our mother, who was leaving the hospital and returning to her home. It was our good fortune that Angel was on call that weekend and calmly dealt with frantic calls coming in from out of state and from the hospital. As astute professionals do, she came up with the best solution which was to go to the hospital, evaluate the situation, and assist from there. Angel, you are indeed an angel; thank you for putting the phone down and stepping in.
And there was Paige, whose shocked look, when asked by someone nearing 60 if we could stay in touch by texting, will always make me chuckle. Our contact began with a visit every other day and texts. Soon a bed and table appeared along with a wheelchair and piles of supplies. She introduced us to other Millcreek staff and services that were available to the family. Mother’s condition soon changed and Paige came every day, then multiple times a day. When my sisters and I were feeling overwhelmed, we'd say "let's contact Paige. She'll know what to do." And, she did. She always came to evaluate Mother and touched her with such tenderness and compassion.
A thank you to Esther, who knew that what we really needed was a break. We quickly learned that when Esther arrived she filled the room with her skill and expertise. It was best to step out and let her make Maxine comfortable with her gentle touch and caring attention.
We won't forget the first day we met Heather. He questions got us thinking about a funeral service and how to balance the wishes of four sisters while honoring our Mother. Thank you for asking, then listening to what was said and that which wasn’t. To state the obvious, we only had one chance to get it right. It is because of your gentle probing during a difficult time that we find great comfort in knowing we made the right decision about her service.
Chaplain John was a perfect fit for our family. He encouraged us to seek a comforting combination of honoring our mother's beliefs and ours. We are so grateful to him for conducting the funeral and for his memorable graveside prayer, which was a tribute to spiritual diversity and harmony.
It seems nearly impossible to thank you all for the service and comfort you gave Mother, and for clearly putting into practice the idea that it is as important to help and support the family as it is the patient.
Take care, all. We greatly admire you choice of work and level of skills in hospice care.
-Mother's girls
Big thanks to this lovely family for letting us care for their mother and support them during a difficult time. It was our pleasure!
To our support group at Millcreek Hospice-Paige, Heather, John Esther and Angel,
My sisters and I would like to thank you for all your compassionate care and support. We first contacted Millcreek on a Sunday to arrange care for our mother, who was leaving the hospital and returning to her home. It was our good fortune that Angel was on call that weekend and calmly dealt with frantic calls coming in from out of state and from the hospital. As astute professionals do, she came up with the best solution which was to go to the hospital, evaluate the situation, and assist from there. Angel, you are indeed an angel; thank you for putting the phone down and stepping in.
And there was Paige, whose shocked look, when asked by someone nearing 60 if we could stay in touch by texting, will always make me chuckle. Our contact began with a visit every other day and texts. Soon a bed and table appeared along with a wheelchair and piles of supplies. She introduced us to other Millcreek staff and services that were available to the family. Mother’s condition soon changed and Paige came every day, then multiple times a day. When my sisters and I were feeling overwhelmed, we'd say "let's contact Paige. She'll know what to do." And, she did. She always came to evaluate Mother and touched her with such tenderness and compassion.
A thank you to Esther, who knew that what we really needed was a break. We quickly learned that when Esther arrived she filled the room with her skill and expertise. It was best to step out and let her make Maxine comfortable with her gentle touch and caring attention.
We won't forget the first day we met Heather. He questions got us thinking about a funeral service and how to balance the wishes of four sisters while honoring our Mother. Thank you for asking, then listening to what was said and that which wasn’t. To state the obvious, we only had one chance to get it right. It is because of your gentle probing during a difficult time that we find great comfort in knowing we made the right decision about her service.
Chaplain John was a perfect fit for our family. He encouraged us to seek a comforting combination of honoring our mother's beliefs and ours. We are so grateful to him for conducting the funeral and for his memorable graveside prayer, which was a tribute to spiritual diversity and harmony.
It seems nearly impossible to thank you all for the service and comfort you gave Mother, and for clearly putting into practice the idea that it is as important to help and support the family as it is the patient.
Take care, all. We greatly admire you choice of work and level of skills in hospice care.
-Mother's girls
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
When Should a Senior Quit Driving?
After reading this article in the New York Times today, I thought I’d talk about taking away what most seniors see as the thing that keeps them independent: the car keys.
There are a lot of seniors who can safely and competently drive, but we’ve all seen seniors who really should NOT be driving. While many seniors see not driving as the nail in the coffin of their independence, the many drivers, cyclists and children on the road see it as extremely important.
If you answer yes to the following questions, think about talking with your loved one about not driving.
· Can they pass a vision test? (Cataracts, Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration can all impact vision quality).
· Are there any unexplained dents in the paint of the car or on the garage
· Does the senior allow others to ride in the car with them when they are driving?
· Does the senior seem nervous or extra anxious when driving?
· Does the senior take alternate routes to avoid major highways?
· Does the senior fail to stop at red lights or stop signs?
· Are speed limits obeyed (Not driving too slow or too fast)?
· Have neighbors or others who see the senior driving (anyone who also attends a regular event they may drive to) observed anything unsafe?
If you do determine that your favorite senior shouldn’t be driving remember the following points when approaching them about it.
- Be respectful: Remember that they’ve been driving a long time and asking them to stop is a big change.
- Give specific examples of instances that they’ve put themselves or others in danger while driving.
- Find strength in numbers: remember that if a senior isn’t driving, they will need your support to get where they need to go. A commitment from the whole family can mean a lot to them!
- Help find alternatives: offer solutions to their objections. Have a plan to get them where they need to go.
- Support them during the transition: spend enough time with them to really understand their transportation needs and make the change as smooth as possible by being available to help when needed.
When all else fails, it may be helpful to get your loved one’s physician or home health social worker involved.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Employee Spotlight: Maren McCauley, CHPN
Maren McCauley
Registered Nurse (RN, BSN), Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN), Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Millcreek Home Health and Hospice Director of Nursing Services
Friday, April 29, 2011
What Could Home Health do for the Queen?
I'll admit it. I woke up early and watched the royal wedding. After her graceful exit from her motorcoahc, I couldn't help but notice that Queen Elizabeth II has a shuffling gait! Here's our favorite monarch making her way to the wedding.
At the 1:30 mark, watch how she doesn't pick up here feet the way a younger, healthy person does. That is a perfect example of a shuffling gait. This is a common symptom for Parkinson's Disease or Musculoskeletal disorders, but changes in gait can also be a normal part of ageing.
A shuffling gait puts seniors at high risk for a fall because they are more likely to trip on thresholds, rugs and natural varients on surfaces. When they have gait irregulariites, they are likely to have poor trunk support and muscle weakness, which means that if they do fall, they will have a hard time getting back up.
A physical therapist will evaluate gait irregularities by
At the 1:30 mark, watch how she doesn't pick up here feet the way a younger, healthy person does. That is a perfect example of a shuffling gait. This is a common symptom for Parkinson's Disease or Musculoskeletal disorders, but changes in gait can also be a normal part of ageing.
A shuffling gait puts seniors at high risk for a fall because they are more likely to trip on thresholds, rugs and natural varients on surfaces. When they have gait irregulariites, they are likely to have poor trunk support and muscle weakness, which means that if they do fall, they will have a hard time getting back up.
A physical therapist will evaluate gait irregularities by
Physical Therapy for a shuffling gait will include strength training, which is modified to suit each individual's specific ability level, balance training and assistive device training.
A fall can pose a huge setback for seniors. Remember that falls are preventable with early intervention!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Resource Corner: Ask Medicare
Medicare.gov offers numerous resources for seniors. Today I want to point you towards it's "Ask Medicare" feature. This gem is not the first thing you see when you visit Medicare.gov, but it is one of the most helpful parts of the sites. This area offers resources targeted to caregivers and breaks information down into four catagories:
Billing
This section deals with the medical care that Medicare covers, how to decipher the bills and statements you will receive from Medicare and how to appeal a claim or file a grievance. If you, or your loved one, is currently on service with a home health or hospice company, there should be a billing specialist who can help you navigate this process. If Millcreek Home Health and Hospice is your agency, call our office and ask for Bianca with any questions.
Navigating Medicare
This section offers information on all the basics of Medicare, including how to enroll, a comparison of health plans and advice on how to manage health care. This is a great resource, but if you live in Salt Lake County, Millcreek Home Health and Hospice recommends contacting Salt Lake County Ageing Services to schedule a one on one review of your unique situation. They can help you determine if Medicare alone will provide enough insurance, connect you to community resources and answer questions about ageing. Ageing Services can be reached at (801) 468-2459.
Overwhelmed? Get Help
This section deals with the many resources out there for caregivers. Millcreek Home Health and Hospice recommends checking them out before you get overwhelmed. Our number one piece of advice for caregivers is to plan early! We know that it is difficult and sometimes painful to think about the eventual decline in health of a loved one, but you will save hours of heartache and hardship if you have the difficult conversations and plan for the worst when you and your loved one are not in crisis. Have a plan for both finances and be sure that you or your loved ones has completed advanced directives that make their medical wishes clear. If you do get overwhelmed, don't wait to ask for help. Contact a home health company. Chances are if your parent requires the kind of care that overwhelms you, they qualify for home health and can benefit from skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and home health aides. You can call Millcreek Home Health and Hospice with questions, too at (801)463-2478.
Care Options
This section is where the rubber meets the road and you can get some solid data and evidence about who does a good job providing medial care to seniors. You can compare hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and home health companies (our favorite!). Millcreek Home Health and Hospice encourages you to choose at least three companies to compare so that you can be sure that you will receive the best care possible. Home health companies should welcome the opportunity to meet with you and answer questions. It is very important that you not only approve of the quality of care that they provide, but also that you like them and trust that they will be respectful when visiting you or your loved one at home. Remember, home health is 100% covered by Medicare.
Check out Medicare's Ask Medicare feature by clicking on this link: http://www.medicare.gov/caregivers/index.asp
Have fun exploring this great resource!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Employee Spotlight: Angel Sullivan, Director of Clinical Services
Angel Sullivan, Registered Nurse (RN, BSN), Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN), Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT).
Angel Sullivan serves as the leader of Millcreek's Hospice Team & works closely with all of Millcreek's internal departments to ensure that patients receive the highest level of quality care available. Angel holds certifications in both Lymphedema and Hospice and Palliative Care and holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration with an emphasis in Gerontology. She has worked exclusively in the Home Health and Hospice since 2004. Angel's significant knowledge about end of life issues guides our hospice team in all aspects of the care they provide. Her clinical expertise is critical in her role as a leader, educator and supervisor for nurses and aides at Millcreek Home Health and Hospice. In addition to being part of Millcreek’s management team, she continues to provide exemplary direct patient care in the areas of hospice, home health and lymphedema therapy.
Angel Sullivan serves as the leader of Millcreek's Hospice Team & works closely with all of Millcreek's internal departments to ensure that patients receive the highest level of quality care available. Angel holds certifications in both Lymphedema and Hospice and Palliative Care and holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration with an emphasis in Gerontology. She has worked exclusively in the Home Health and Hospice since 2004. Angel's significant knowledge about end of life issues guides our hospice team in all aspects of the care they provide. Her clinical expertise is critical in her role as a leader, educator and supervisor for nurses and aides at Millcreek Home Health and Hospice. In addition to being part of Millcreek’s management team, she continues to provide exemplary direct patient care in the areas of hospice, home health and lymphedema therapy.
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