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!

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.

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

 

 

 

Ms. McCauley is a earned her degree in Nursing from the University of Utah, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse. Maren oversees nursing services for Millcreek Home Health and Hospice patients and provides exceptional direct patient care.