November is National Hospice Month and, according to the Hospice Foundation of America, about two-thirds of hospice patients are over the age of 65.
While most hospice patients are diagnosed with terminal cancer, most elderly hospice patients are in the end-stages of pulmonary disease, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Presidential Oaks recently unveiled its new Palliative Care Wing designed to provide the extra level of support needed by those searching for a supportive, nurturing environment in which to go through this final passage. The organization works with Beacon Hospice and Concord Regional VNA Hospice to provide end-of-life care. Each hospice provider creates an inter-disciplinary team to work with Presidential Oaks staff to care for terminal patients.
Beacon Hospice helped develop a course that was open to all Presidential Oaks employees on all aspects of hospice care. Course attendees included personnel from many departments including Nurses, Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNAs), Housekeeping, Social Services, and Activities.
“This was an opportunity,” Kenney said, “to educate everyone here about what hospice means to the residents and their families. It was also a chance to take what we already do well and elevate it to an even higher level – to make it a specialty.”
The eight-week course covered topics including hospice eligibility and care, focus of care, recognizing signs or symptoms of pain or discomfort, as well as the psychosocial aspect between the patient and family. After successfully completing the course, Presidential Oaks LNAs will be selected to attend a certification program which will include a comprehensive review of the topics for which the hospice LNA will be responsible.
“Our goal is to change people’s stereotype that hospice is only for the last few days,” Kenney explained. “It’s really about improving the quality of life and providing a continuity of care for however long that life is.”
(Diane Currier is marketing director for Presidential Oaks.)
