Each month our hospice team takes the time to remember all our hospice patients who have died that month. We remember their names and honor their lives. We remember the gift of caring for them, and the blessing of how they cared for us. This poem we read in May describes that hospice "circle of life."
MAY 2018
Notes From Friends
Hospice of the Valleys serves hundreds of patients each and every year. We honor them by sharing their stores. They remind us every day of the meaning and purpose in our work and that human connection is at the heart of the hospice experience
The following are notes Hospice of the Valleys has received from the families of patients that we have been privileged to provide hospice care.
"Thanks so much for your knowledge, kindess, and compassion during my mom's last days. We don't know what we would have done without you all. You not only made sure my mom was as comfortable as possible, but also comforted us as a family. You all are truly special people and we are so grateful!"
"Thanks to all of you for your kindess, and support during my mother's illness and passing."
We are honored and humbled to announce the Hospice of the Valleys has been awarded the HealthcareFirst Hospice Honors elite award!Over 1900 hospices use HealthcareFirst to survey hospice families regarding quality of care experience on 24 CMS quality of care questions. To receive an Elite status, a hospice must score above national average on all 24 quality of care questions; thus showing the highest level of quality based upon the patient and caregiver hospice experience.
Hospice of the Valleys was the ONLY agency in California to receive elite Status!
We are so proud of the hard work and dedication our staff and volunteers provide. Thank you to our generous and kind community for your support so that we can continue to provide loving, compassionate care - the type of care we would want our own families to receive.
No Act of Love is Ever Wasted
By: Dr. Lynn Euzenas
Director of Spiritual Care & Bereavement Services
Nurses Understand Caregiver Burnout
Dr. Leslee B. Cochrane
Executive Medical Director
Last month I wrote about the silent epidemic of caregiver burnout which affects up to 40-70% of the 65 million Americans who serve as unpaid caregivers to their frail elderly or otherwise disabled family members. Nurses really understand the many stresses and challenges facing family caregivers as they know from firsthand experience just how difficult it is to provide the care needed by patients. Nurses are consistently ranked among the most trusted professionals and for over 35 years the nurses of Hospice of the Valleys have been providing compassionate end of life care to the patients and families of our community. I feel deeply honored to work with such dedicated professionals and hope you will join me in recognizing these "Angels Among us" during National Nurses Week May 6th - 12th.
In order to better understand caregiver burnout it is helpful to recognize some of the warning signs. Below is a list of some of the common warning signs of caregiver burnout:
- Changes in appetite - eating too much or too little.
- Inadequate sleep and feeling exhausted.
- Mood changes including anxiety and depression.
- Self neglect- not attending to medical, emotional and spiritual needs.
- Danger signs such as elevated blood pressure and chest pains warrant immediate medical attention.
Caregiver burnout is a very real and growing problem in our society and the burden of providing personal care is not covered by most insurance plans. Although there are not any easy answers to address this growing problem, I would encourage you to reach out and take advantage of some of the various resources available within our community designed to provide education and support for caregivers. Below are few of the caregiver resources available in our community:
The Riverside County Office on Aging (800) 510-2020 - The Office on Aging is an incredible resource and can provide information on caregiver education and support resources.
Veteran's Service Center (951) 766-2566 - Hospice of the Valleys is proud to participate in the We Honor Veterans Program. Veterans may be eligible for additional caregiver resources including limited funds to assist with caregiver support.
Riverside County In-Home Supportive Services (888) 960-4477 - Patients with Medi-cal insurance may be eligible to receive assistance with hiring in home caregivers or placement in a Skilled Nursing Home.
For additional caregiver resources check out our resource library under the "Patients and Families" tab or give us a call at 951-200-7800. Hospice of the Valleys has been helping families manage the many stresses of end of life care for over 35 years and we are here to serve you.