Care and placement options in the final stages of life

Contact: Maria Patino 832.408.7999 accreditedhospicesofamerica.com A terminally ill patient’s deteriorating medical condition, increased physical safety needs, and the 24-hour demands of final-stage care often mean the primary caregiver will need additional in-home help, or for the patient to be placed in a hospice or other care facility. In many cases, patients prefer to remain at...
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What is Dementia?

Contact: Maria Patino 832.408.7999 accreditedhospicesofamerica.com Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases.Vascular dementia, which occurs after...
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The win-win relationship

Contact: Maria Patino 832.408.7999 accreditedhospicesofamerica.com Last week, I met someone in a coffee shop that had worked for ten years at a retirement home for the elderly. We had an enjoyable conversation about how several people would come in and request volunteer work or be searching for volunteer services in his area. I could relate to his...
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In-home services give seniors a helping hand

Contact: Maria Patino 832.410.3198 accreditedhospicesofamerica.com As people grow older, they face an often dizzying array of options for managing their health and well-being. Fortunately, taking care of everything by oneself at home or moving to a nursing facility are not the only choices. In-home services are a very good option for many older adults who...
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Six Things You Shouldn’t Say to a Cancer Patient

Many people find themselves at loss for words when they find out someone they know is suffering from cancer. Even with the best of intentions, they can find themselves saying things that are hurtful without realizing their impact on the cancer patient. Caring for someone close to you who has been diagnosed with cancer is...
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The Importance of the Conversation

Contact: Maria Patino 832.408.7999 maria@accreditedhospicesofamerica.com Initiating the conversation about hospice is the fist step in helping a patient have a comfortable transition from curative to comfort care. As the patient’s physician,and as someone he or she trusts, you can play an integral role in helping your patient develop a plan for end-of-life discussions, patients are...
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What is Continuous Care

Hospice care in the United States is a type and philosophy of end-of-life care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s symptoms. These symptoms can be physical, emotional, spiritual or social in nature. Since its first establishment, the industry has rapidly expanded. In the United States, it is distinguished by more extensive...
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Palliative care sees the person beyond the disease. It is a fundamental shift in focus for health care delivery.

Palliative care, and the medical sub-specialty of palliative medicine, is specialized medical care for people living with serious illness. It focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is provided by...
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Providing comfort at the end of life

Comfort care is an essential part of medical care at the end of life. It is care that helps or soothes a person who is dying. The goal is to prevent or relieve suffering as much as possible while respecting the dying person’s wishes. You are probably reading this because someone close to you is...
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Hospice vs Home Aide Organizations vs Licensed Home Health Agencies

Contact: Debbie Mosbacher 832.410.3192 As the demand for care and services in assisted living and residential care increases, so too does the use of home care, home health, and hospice. But it can be confusing to understand the difference between these providers and the services they offer. Fortunately, the Accredited Hospices of America services provides...
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