NEWS

Burden Bears: A Project Comes Full Circle

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When Joyce Hamm came to Trillium Woods to receive hospice care, she, like many Faith Hospice patients, was given a Burden Bear. These handmade stuffed bears aim to comfort hospice patients or their family members during the end-of-life journey and afterward. But, little did our staff know that when they gave that bear to Joyce, they were placing it in the hands of the woman who started the project many years ago.

13 on Your Side Interview

POSTED in News
Navigating all of the decisions that must be made as a loved one nears end-of-life can be difficult. Listen to Director of Operations, Benjamin Jacobs on @13 On Your Side as he describes the physical, emotional and spiritual care the Faith Hospice team provides to both patients and their loved ones.

Podcast: Latest Episode

POSTED in NewsTagged
Our new podcast, This Day and Age, has officially launched! Along with our affiliates Holland Home and Faith Hospice, we’re bringing together experts in all things aging to help you and your loved ones better navigate life’s journey. Listen to our latest episode.

 Wellness at the End of Life

POSTED in Hospice
There are always ways that we can look to improve the quality of our life, from spending more time with our loved ones to better managing pain to dealing with the loss of a loved one. Continue reading to learn more about how our hospice, palliative, and bereavement care can help our community reach their health and wellness goals at any stage of life—and at any time of year.

The Importance of End-of-Life Planning

POSTED in Hospice
Here at Faith Hospice, we strive to give our patients the end-of-life journey that they want. Whether that consists of going up in a hot air balloon, spending more time with family, or finding peace with God’s plan, our staff is here to provide the necessary support. However, planning can play a big role in our patients’ ability to live out their final months as they wish.

Complimentary Therapies

POSTED in Hospice
Whether it be aromatherapy, a relaxing massage, a soothing tune, or the presence of an animal’s unconditional love, complementary therapies help to augment care beyond pharmacological treatment. The goal is to give every Faith Hospice patient the highest quality of life possible and too care for the whole person.

Hearts of Hospice Webinar: Helping Children Cope

POSTED in Hospice
It can be difficult to know how to help or where to start when a child is grieving. In our next Hearts of Hospice Webinar, Bereavement Manager, Janet Jaymin, and Bereavement Social Worker, Jenny Gruppen, discuss strategies to help children cope and give activity ideas to get children talking about their feelings.

What to Expect in the Final Days

POSTED in HospiceTagged
While everyone’s end-of-life journey is different, there are similar symptoms that people experience. These physical, psychological, and spiritual changes can occur months, weeks, or days before someone’s passing. Keeping in mind that each person is on their own journey, here are some general guidelines for what you might see as someone nears the end of their life.

Your loved one has passed. Now what?

POSTED in Bereavement, Hospice
After your loved one has passed, the emotions and stress can be overwhelming. The last thing that is on most people’s minds is gathering documents and contacting insurance agents. To make this difficult time a little easier, we have compiled a list of steps that need to be taken.

Hospice Care: In-Patient vs. In-Home

POSTED in Hospice
Many people think of hospice as a place that people go. However, hospice is a type of care that can be offered in many different settings—a patient’s home, a senior living facility, or at an in-patient hospice facility like Faith Hospice’s Trillium Woods.

The Transition to Hospice Care

POSTED in Hospice
The move to hospice care can be a stressful task during an already stressful time. To help ease some of your worries and answer questions you may have about the process, we’ve broken down a few of the steps. Although everyone’s journey looks a little different, Faith Hospice Trillium Palliative Services Nurse Practitioner, Barb Opperwall, explains below what the typical transition to hospice looks like.

Hospice Care: Quality of Life, Not Just End of Life

POSTED in Hospice
When people hear hospice care, they probably think of the care given to a person at the end of their life. And while this is true, there is often the misconception that once someone enters hospice care, they are “giving up” or waiting to die. Hospice care is not just about preparing someone for their final days but enhancing the quality of life for that person weeks and months before.

The Team Behind Hospice Care

POSTED in Hospice
Whether in front of or behind the scenes, there are a number of different people that contribute to the care of each hospice patient and their family. Enhancing every patient’s quality of life and supporting and comforting their loved ones involves many moving parts and people working together. 

Lora Ann Wiggins Bucket List

POSTED in News
On June 14th, doctors gave Lora Ann Wiggins 8 weeks to live. But 11 weeks later, the Faith Hospice patient with stage 4 colon cancer is still going strong. She is using her last days crossing items off of her bucket list and teaching others how to live.

Palliative Care: Common Questions & Misconceptions

POSTED in Palliative Care
Today, when you hear the words “palliative care”, there are likely some questions and misconceptions that arise: What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care? We turned to Nurse Practitioner and 40-year veteran of the palliative care field, Barb Opperwall, to answer these questions and clarify the most common misconceptions. [10 minute read]