Helping Hands Blog

“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul, there is no separation”-Rumi

Decorations. caroling, shopping. After November has come and gone, the majority of people are preparing for the holiday season. It can be easy to get caught up in all of the hustle and bustle, but it is important to remember that the holidays can be difficult. For those coping with grief and loss, December doesn’t just mark a month of cheer, but for some it marks of a month of remembrance and grief.

Fall brings colder weather and shorter days. Before we know it Thanksgiving will be here and we will be preparing for the busiest time of the year. These changes may be exciting to some, but for others, fall can be a difficult time. For individuals suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia, a change in the environment can be confusing, and frustrating.

The Alzheimer’s Association (AA) has reported approximately 5.8 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. By 2050, this number could increase to nearly 14 million individuals. With these high numbers, it is important to stay informed about the best ways to care for individuals and loved ones who are living with this disease.

As we get older it isn't unusual for our hobbies, interests, and habits to change. After all, if we continued to like and do the same thing our whole lives it would become less interesting. These types of changes in our behavior can be fun, and connect us with others. When it comes to the behavioral changes associated with Sundowners Syndrome, we can find our loved ones isolating themselves and becoming more irritable than usual.

Discussing hospice can be a beneficial option at any stage of a life-limiting illness. Patients as well as their families benefit the most when they are supported by the hospice team with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual support from their hospice team as early as possible.

Did you know?

Below are some interesting facts and figures released by the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization.Gulfside is proud to have served residents of Pasco County, Fl for the past 30 years.

•  47.5% of hospice patients are ages 84 or older. Less than 6% are younger than age 65.
• Only 27% of hospice patients have a principal diagnosis of cancer. 18% have a diagnosis of dementia.
• The average length of stay for Medicare patients enrolled in hospice is 71 days.

Hospice Care

Hospice care is palliative by nature, meaning it provides comfort care. At the point of receiving hospice care, a patient's illness has progressed to where curative treatment is no longer desired or beneficial. Hospice care supports the patient and their families while focusing on relieving symptoms and offering comfort from pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, insomnia or constipation.

Non-Hospice Palliative Care

By definition, non-hospice palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms that are related to chronic illnesses, such as cancer, cardiac disease, respiratory disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s and other dementias, AIDS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological diseases.

As you can see, there are differences between non-hospice palliative care and hospice care – and yet there is a relationship between the two. Non-hospice palliative care can be used at any stage of an illness, not just the advanced stages.