How a family uses its money usually starts with the care of family members, addressing basic needs such as the mortgage, medical costs and tuition bills.

What a family decides to do with its money after basic needs have been met can cover an array of venues. If you do choose to contribute to charitable causes, you will be pleased to know that you can give in ways that not only benefit the causes you love, but you and your family as well.

Three Ways to Make All the Difference
One—Annual gifts ensure that we will be able to provide much-needed patient services every year.
Two—A sizable gift to Hospice & Palliative CareCenter this year lets us use those funds to support immediate projects.

	Learn of the many ways you can minimize your taxes and maximize your gift to Hospice & Palliative CareCenter in our free guide.

Three—A gift in your will or trust demonstrates your commitment to improving health care in our community.

Please contact Ellen Coble at 336-331-1312 or ellen.coble@hospicecarecenter.org to learn more about the different ways to support Hospice & Palliative CareCenter.

For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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This is not a unique story. It’s told over and over. Many of the details and most of the emotions are shared by thousands who choose quality end-of-life care at Hospice & Palliative CareCenter.

The power in Madlon Glenn’s story lies in the very fact that it is not unique. It is the same story. It is a story of caring, compassion and comfort.

Madlon’s Story
Madlon’s mother, Hawley Chambers, suffered a serious injury in January 2008. At first, her family was hopeful that she would survive, but after two months and two unsuccessful surgeries, they called Hospice.

“The Hospice nurse gently broke the news to us that our mother would never recover,” Madlon says. After accepting the care and support from Hospice, the family’s story of pain and despair became one of peaceful acceptance.

“Hospice knew what to do for her and for us,” Madlon says. “They were always so kind. And we were grateful for the option of having around-the-clock care at the Hospice Home.”

When Madlon and her brother, Thornton “Butch” Chambers, visited their mother at the Hospice Home for the first time, they were amazed to see her looking so well. “She was sitting up for the first time in two months, her hair was fixed and she’d had a manicure,” Madlon says.

But the intense level of care Mrs. Chambers enjoyed during her time at Hospice went deeper than a beauty makeover. “She was frightened in the hospital but not at Hospice,” her daughter says. “She was never alone and she seemed more relaxed. She was at peace.”

With Hospice’s help, Mrs. Chambers’ family members found their own peace. As Madlon tells the story, “Hospice makes the patient’s last days mean something and prepares the family to let go.”

For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Source: SeriousIllness.org

National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16, a day when all Americans are encouraged to complete or review their advance directive.

The advance health care directive allows you to name someone to act as your “agent” if you become unable to speak for yourself.

That person becomes your “medical power of attorney.”

Your family member should have an advance directive. So should you!

Continue Reading…

For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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After a lifetime of maintaining your will, you may be wondering what exactly happens to it after you pass away. Well, after your lifetime, your will goes through what is known as probate, the legal procedure by which the courts oversee that your assets are properly distributed.

In general, if you leave a will, the will is submitted to a court for legal review. If you die without a will (called intestate), a court becomes responsible for ensuring that your estate is distributed according to your state’s intestate succession laws. A number of steps occur in the probate process, including:

• Your will and any codicils (separately written amendments to your will) are submitted to the probate court.
• An executor is appointed to act on behalf of your estate.
• People and businesses that have claims against your estate or owe money to your estate are notified.
• Your estate’s assets are inventoried.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, contact Ann Gauthreaux, public relations director, at 336-768-3972, or see Hospice’s website at http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Source: SeriousIllness.org

You may be entitled to claim your relative as a dependent. This requires that:

- The individual’s income was less than $3,650 in 2010. “Income” includes Social Security and pension benefits. Also, proceeds from investments or withdrawals from retirement savings plans.

- You paid more than 50% of your relative’s support. He or she does not have to live with you. Support expenses include food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Also, transportation, recreation, and other essentials. If he or she lived with you, include fair rental value for your family member’s share of the lodging.

Many relatives qualify. Your parents and siblings. Other family relatives, step relatives, and in-laws. Or anyone who lived with you all year.

If others paid some support expenses, a deduction is still possible. But only one person can claim it. And everyone who shared expenses must sign a multiple support agreement.

You may be able to deduct medical expenses.

• This includes expenses paid for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent relative. Or for a relative who would have qualified as a dependent but had too much income or filed a joint return.
• The expenses must add to more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). For example, if your AGI is $40,000, the first $3,000 of expenses doesn’t count.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, contact Ann Gauthreaux, public relations director, at 336-768-3972, or see Hospice’s website at http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Source: SeriousIllness.org

It’s unsettling when a family member is losing weight unexpectedly. If the doctor has no medical explanation, perhaps it’s the result of one of these common situations:
Access to food

- Money. Many elders needlessly limit purchases. A review of the budget, or shopping together, may help. If finances are limited, contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find senior dining programs and food banks. Or check out our listing of nutrition programs.

• Shopping. Your parent may have difficulty getting to a grocery store. And difficulty carrying packages. Have your parent try using a wheeled cart. Arrange for rides. Order groceries delivered. Or consider a taxi.
• Cooking. Cooking is physically demanding. Standing. Lifting. Carrying. With arthritis or vision loss, simply opening a package can be difficult. Help prepare meals in advance. Or identify shortcuts, such as precut vegetables.

Appetite and eating

• Flavor. We lose taste and smell as we age. And salt-restricted diets are often bland. Suggest cooking with more herbs and spices.
• Pain. Pain decreases appetite. Eating with others can create a natural distraction. Also check for correctable problems with dentures or teeth.
• Depression. Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or loneliness commonly reduce appetite. Have your loved one evaluated for depression. Look for ways to reduce isolation, particularly at mealtime.
• Medication. Some medications cause nausea or constipation. Others bring on a depressed mood. Still others reduce taste and smell. Ask the pharmacist about side effects and possible alternative drugs.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, contact Ann Gauthreaux, public relations director, at 336-768-3972, or see Hospice’s website at http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Death and dying are not topics we talk about easily in our culture. As a general rule, in fact, we avoid them, almost as if to talk about them would bring on a premature demise. As a result, many families are unaware of their loved one’s wishes at the end of life and are faced with making difficult decisions. This can lead to family discord and can make a trying situation even harder than it already is.

Norene’s father, Richard, showed caring and foresight in planning ahead. He thought about what “quality of life” meant to him. Reflecting on what made life worth living helped him to make decisions about life support issues. (It also helped Richard and his family maximize the things that gave him pleasure!) After clarifying his own values, Richard was able to write an advance directive, a document that stated his wishes concerning health care decisions in case he was unable to speak for himself. He talked with his family about his wishes and asked his eldest son to be his health care representative if a situation came up that was not covered in the advance directive. By planning ahead, Richard was able to lay the groundwork for things to unfold the way he would have wanted them to.

In addition to health care planning, Richard took steps to plan his finances. When he began to have difficulty getting to the bank, he gave his daughter Norene “durable power of attorney.” He was able to continue making financial decisions on his own, but this simple document legally allowed Norene to step in and handle his affairs during those times when he was too ill to do so himself. Richard prepared documents stating his wishes for how his belongings were to be distributed. He was also mindful of the fact that medical expenses could eat up the resources he did have and leave very little for his wife to live on afterward. With some planning, Richard was able to protect his assets and safeguard his wife’s security.

Not all patients are able to make these kinds of decisions ahead of time. Many need help from family members who can assure the patient that it’s okay to talk about these things and, in fact, would be helpful for the family if they were discussed. Ideally, all of us adults would have documents stating our desires for the distribution of our belongings and the handling of our medical care at the end of life. After all, any one of us could get in an accident tomorrow! These decisions especially need to be made when a serious illness has been diagnosed, and the sooner the better while the patient still has the ability to think and communicate clearly. To help you, we have tips to start the conversation about planning. Although it can be awkward at first, families who do have these discussions fare a lot better emotionally at the end, not having to guess and knowing they are doing what their loved one wanted them to do.

For more, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Thanksgiving is a time we traditionally gather with family to celebrate our gratitude for life. As those who are dealing with a serious illness know, life is a gift. The fact that it does not last forever is part of what makes life precious. Join others who are choosing to spend a portion of this holiday gathering to engage with grace.

This is a national movement to gracefully promote family discussions about end-of-life preferences. Talking with family is key to ensuring that your own wishes are followed. In caring for a family member, knowing that person’s wishes ahead of time reduces the potential for guilt and conflict.

You can lead the way by reviewing with your family your own answers to these questions:

- Who would you like to have make decisions for you if you are unable to speak for yourself? Ideally, you have completed an advance directive. In this document, you name your medical power of attorney and give him or her some basic instructions. Use this time to let others know whom you have chosen and what you would like.

- Where would you like to spend your last days? At home or in a hospital? What would be the most comforting?

- Do you want aggressive medical treatment right up to the end? If so, make sure your family knows to advocate for you.

- Would you prefer minimal intervention? Depending on the circumstances, your priority in your last weeks may be to live as normally as possible, placing quality over quantity. Prepare your family to accept this as your choice.

During this season of thanks, you can thank your family for their support of you and encourage them to share their wishes as well.

For more, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Hospice & Palliative CareCenter is committed to improving excellence in the delivery of palliative, hospice, and end-of-life care.

Continuing Medical Education Offerings
Hospice & Palliative CareCenter’s medical staff services department offers several opportunities for medical professionals to gain a deeper understanding of end-of-life care.

Through a series of conferences, case studies, and other forums, our team of experienced physicians and nurse practitioners, will offer the following opportunities:

CME General Medicine Conference Series in Palliative Medicine
Hospice and palliative care focused training – various topics offered by our staff and guest speakers. The conference series is open to medical staff and other healthcare professionals interested in expanding their knowledge of Hospice and Palliative medicine.

Conferences are offered the 2nd & 4th Friday’s of each month and run from September thru June. Appropriate continuing education credits are awarded to healthcare professionals who attend.

For more, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Is life with a terminal illness hopeless? Not at all. Seriously ill individuals thrive on hope, just like the rest of us. It gives us a sense of purpose.

According to hospice expert Cathleen Fanslow-Brunjes, hope in serious illness typically has four main stages:

- Hope for a cure. “I’m not going to let this stop me.”
-  Hope for treatment. “I think the radiation is really working!”
- Hope for prolongation of life. “I want to go to the family reunion.”
- Hope for a peaceful death. “I’m hoping for no pain in my final days.”

The four stages often align with disease progression. But it’s not uncommon for a person to move back and forth among them.

Knowing the four stages, you can better support your family member in sustaining his or her hope. Listen carefully for comments that indicate hope.

Many families are concerned about “realistic hope.” Find out what your loved one is hoping for and ask the doctor if it is feasible. If so, then all of you can work toward this shared goal.

If the hope is not realistic, it may signal the need for a change in care goals. But it does not mean your loved one must be without hope! Instead, it means you need to talk together with the doctor and come up with a more achievable project or purpose.

Dr. David Casarett, a hospice physician, wrote an insightful book about this topic called “Last Acts.” It specifically looks at the many ways his patients chose to find meaning in their last few months, weeks, and days.

Hope is always available. We just need help knowing how to look for it.

For more, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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