What is Hospice: Myths About Hospice Care

‘Hospice’ is a term that describes a specific type of symptom management care for people who will eventually die as a result of a progressive disease. In order to make informed decisions and take advantage of the personalized level of care and services that hospice offers, we can correct our misconceptions.

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Therapy At Home

Measurable Results at Home

No matter your health needs, the Connected Rehabilitation Team is ready to help you. Our therapy team is passionate about bringing the latest techniques and programs to our patients. Through continuing education, our physical and occupational therapists apply the latest research to improve balance and reduce fall risk. They also utilize therapeutic modalities combined with a full-service therapy program for strengthening, balance training, pain reduction, wound care, urinary incontinence, and increasing patients’ range of motion.

Our Holistic Approach

Our therapists work together with your physician, nursing, social services, the business office, families, caregivers, and local communities to assess functional potential, and collaborate on the unique goals for every patient.

  • Physical Therapists (PT) & Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA)
  • Occupational Therapists (OT) & Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA)
  • Speech and Language Pathologists
Our team works holistically with one goal in mind: to maximize your comfort and health.

Physical Therapy

The physical therapist’s role is to evaluate the patient’s condition, determine barriers and develop a plan of care to work towards goals.

  • Strengthening
  • Conditioning Exercise
  • Mobility Training
  • Home Exercise Programs
  • Joint Replacement Rehabilitation
  • Orthotic / Prosthetic Training
  • Gait training/ Ambulation
  • Transfer Training
  • BIG Therapy for Parkinson’s

Occupational Therapy

The focus of Occupational Therapy is to improve your quality of life by maximizing function, safety, and independence in activities of daily living.

  • Improve activities of daily living including dressing, bathing, grooming.
  • Use of special equipment training
  • Orthotic / prosthetic training
  • Muscle re-education
  • Home modifications and equipment
  • Therapy for Parkinson’s

Speech Therapy

Speech-Language Pathologists work to improve communication and cognitive skills. Speech Therapists also work with patients to improve their ability to safely eat and swallow.

  • Language and word-finding
  • Communication Therapy
  • Treatment for cognition and memory
  • Swallowing Therapy
  • LOUD Therapy for Parkinson’s

Understanding The Grief Process

Emotional

Physical

Behavioral

  • Shock
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Panic
  • Guilt
  • Anger (at God, medical personnel, yourself, the deceased)
  • Fear (of being alone, of leaving the house, of being in the house)
  • Relief
  • Yearning
  • Gradual Hope
  • Tightness in chest
  • Breathlessness
  • Lack of energy
  • Changing in eating habits
  • Stomach aches
  • Lump in throat
  • Headaches
  • Inability to sleep
  • Lack of motivation
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Unpredictable and uncontrollable tearfulness
  • Forgetfulness
  • Social withdrawal
  • Busyness to evade reality
  • Preoccupation with the life of the deceased

You may find yourself busy immediately following your loved one’s death. It is important during this time to take things slowly and enlist the help of friends and family.

You can expect to experience grief for a long time. Be prepared for the possibility of unexpected feelings of bereavement months and even years after your loved one’s death. This is normal.

Grief is a normal, healthy, and human response to loss. It is painful and can seem unbearable at times. Many emotions come and go. The length and difficulty of the grieving process varies from person to person. Grief does not follow a timeline, but it does ease over time. This process can offer an opportunity for personal growth.

A mourning period of a year or more is quite normal, but society often finds it difficult to tolerate a person’s grieving for more than a week or two. Family, friends, and colleagues may become concerned or even impatient if the grieving continues.

Support from friends and family may decrease after the funeral/memorial service. You do not have to go through the grieving process alone. The Elite Hospice Bereavement Team is available to you. They can offer support in any way you might find helpful.

If you need support immediately and have not heard from a member of our team, do not hesitate to call the Connected Hospice office at 503-261-8599 and express your need.

HEALING AND GROWTH

When ignored grief can continue to cause pain. It is important to recognize grieving, even though it is very difficult work. Allow yourself to feel all emotions that arise and be patient with yourself.

  • Realize your grief is unique
  • Get your rest
  • Journal
  • Meditate
  • Seek out friends who can encourage and support you
  • Get involved in a support group
  • Postpone all major decisions
  • Give in to your pain
  • Realize that grief has no timetable
  • Talk about your sorrow
  • Forgive yourself
  • Eat well and exercise
  • Indulge yourself by doing something that is frivolous and distracting that you enjoy
  • Prepare for holidays and anniversaries
  • Take steps to create a new life for yourself
  • Change traditions that may no longer be comfortable

Levels of Care

Elite Home Health and Hospice provides high-quality care through individualized, compassionate service. At the heart of hospice care, you will find a deep appreciation and understanding of the special needs of our patients. We believe strongly in the dignity and value of the human soul. Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life, rather than cure.

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