24 | wphospitalnews.comIssue No. <strong>10</strong>Hospice Care Provides Patients and LovedOnes with Comfort, Care and CompassionWhen a loved one is ill, you do what you can for thatperson. You make chicken soup, fluff pillows and pickup prescriptions from the pharmacy — you do whateveryou can to provide as much comfort as possible. Hospicecare – a type of care available when a patients prognosisif for a life expectancy of six months or less if the terminalillness runs its normal course – is centered on thosesame principles but so much more. It’s more than attendingto a patient’s physical needs, it’s making sure theemotional needs of the patient, as well as his or her family,are also considered. The whole person is treated, witha focus on providing peace and comfort.The Hospice Care concept was established in theUnited States in 1974, and according to the national Hospiceand Palliative Care Organization, hospice care wasprovided to at least 700,000 patients in 1999, up from540,000 in 1998. Today, hospice care continues to be agrowing and viable option for quality care for the terminallyill. AseraCare Hospice, a leading provider of eldercareservices, is not surprised by the increase.“By treating a person’s medical condition, such as relievingpain and controlling symptoms, as well as providingemotional support to the patient and his or her lovedones, greater quality of life can be attained during the finalstages of a person’s life – that’s very important to our patients,”said Jane Carr, Director of Clinical Services.Hospice care is a family-centered approach, and ismade up of a “family” or team of healthcare professionalsincluding doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains,aides and volunteers, who coordinate and provide carenot only to the patient, but also to the family, 24 hours aday, seven days a week. Each member of the hospiceteam plays a special role in the care of a patient and hisor her family, providing medical care, and social, emotionaland spiritual support, even after the death of thepatient. The Hospice Foundation of American (HFA), anot-for-profit organization that provides leadership in thedevelopment and application of hospice and its philosophyof care, notes that patients and families who choosehospice care are the core members of the hospice teamand are at the center of all decisions that are made.The last days of a person’s life should be as restfuland serene as possible. Therefore, with hospice care, patientsand their family members make the decision as towhere the patient’s final days are spent. AseraCare Hospiceexplains that rather than at a hospital, hospice carecan be provided in a welcoming and comfortable settingsuch as a nursing home, an assisted living or personalcare home, an inpatient hospice center, the home of family,or at the patient’s own home. The hospice team canhelp make that decision, based on what will be mostcomfortable for the patient and family.AseraCare Hospice offers the following step-by-stepguide to help those eligible for hospice care understandhow to take the first step to receiving care.l Hospice staff meet with the patient’s personalphysician and a hospice physician to discuss the patient’smedical history, current symptoms and life expectancy.ElderCarel After the initial physicians’ meeting, hospice staffmeets with the patient and his or her loved ones to discussthe hospice philosophy, available services and expectations.l The hospice staff then discusses with the patient hisor her pain and comfort levels, support systems, financialand insurance resources, medications and equipmentneeds.l Finally, a plan of care is built for the patient, whichstaff regularly reviews and revises, based on a patient’scondition.While it may be difficult to think about a loved onepassing away, hospice care can help make the transitionmore peaceful. Bereavement support is also available,and is one of the final stages of hospice care. AseraCareHospice staff notes that one of the most beneficial rolesthat hospice staff and volunteers offer is support and helpto family members and loved ones with emotional healingor adjusting to their loss.For more information visit www.aseracare.com orwww.youtube.com/aseracarehospice or www.facebook.com/#!/aseracarehospice.The 50-50 Rule SM : Overcoming Family Conflict is in the BestInterests of Aging ParentsBy Lucy NovellyAnyone who cares for seniors whether in the hospital or home setting has seen thebehind-the-scenes family conflict that can interfere with the care of an elderly patient.Siblings may not have much in common now that they’re grown, but they do share onething: responsibility for the care of their mom or dad.“Any family that has cared for a senior loved one knows that problems working withsiblings can lead to family strife,” said Lucy Novelly, a local franchise owner of HomeInstead Senior Care that serves Washington County and South Hills. “Making decisionstogether, dividing the workload and teamwork are the keys to overcoming family conflict.”Coined The 50-50 RuleSM, this program offers strategies for overcoming siblingdifferences to help families provide the best care for elderly parents, which in turn helpsthe professionals who fit into the overall care dynamic. The 50-50 Rule refers to theaverage age (50) when siblings are caring for their parents, as well as the need for brothersand sisters to share in the plans for care 50-50.“If you’re 50, have siblings and are assisting with the care of seniors, it’s time to developa plan,” Novelly said. “This program can help.”At the core of the 50-50 Rule public education program is a family relationship andcommunication guide of real-life situations that features practical advice from siblingrelationships expert Dr. Ingrid Connidis from the University of <strong>Western</strong> Ontario. Medicalprofessionals, administrators and others who find themselves in contact with familiesmay benefit from understanding more about such family dynamics and maybecome a third party mediator in discussions regarding the overall care and health of asenior.“Like all relationships,siblings have a history,”Connidis noted. “Whateverhappened in the pastinfluences what happensin the present. Regardlessof their circumstances,most siblings do feel a responsibilityto care for parentsthat is built from love.And that’s a good place tostart – optimistically andassuming the best.”According to the website Caring.com, family feuds often revolve around the followingareas and impact the health status of a senior:l Roles and rivalries dating back to childhood. Mature adults often find thatthey’re back in the sandbox when their family gets together. This tendency can groweven more pronounced under the strain of caregiving.l Disagreements over an elder’s condition and capabilities. It’s common for familymembers to have very different ideas about what’s wrong with a loved one and whatshould be done about it. You may be convinced that your family member is no longercapable of driving, while your brothers argue that he needs to maintain his independence.l Disagreements over financial matters, estate planning, family inheritance andother practical issues. How to pay for a family member’s care is often a huge cause oftension. Financial concerns can influence decisions about where the person should live,whether or not a particular medical intervention is needed, and whether he can afford ahousekeeper. These conflicts are often fueled by ongoing resentment over income disparitiesand perceived inequities in the distribution of the family estate.l Burden of care. Experts say the most common source of discord among familymembers occurs when the burden of caring for an elder isn’t distributed equally. HomeInstead Senior Care research reveals that in 43 percent of U.S. families and 41 percentof Canadian families, one sibling has the responsibility for providing most or all of thecare for mom or dad. “Usually one of the adult children in the family takes on most ofthe caregiving tasks,” says Donna Schempp, program director at the Family CaregiverAlliance (www.caregiver.org) a national nonprofit organization that provides informationand support to caregivers.Engaging parents in caregiving issues is important, Dr. Connidis said, and so arefamily meetings that involve a third party if necessary. A third-party resource, particularlya professional such as a doctor or geriatric care manager, can provide an impartialvoice of reason. “Talking before a crisis is best,” she said. “Talk to one another aboutperceptions of what happens if seniors need help, how available you would be, and theoptions that you and your family would consider.”For more information about the 50-50 Rule program, visit www.solvingfamilyconflict.com.Lucy Novelly, CSA, is the ranchise Owner/CEO of Home Instead Senior Care servingWashington County and the South Hills area. For more information about the local HomeInstead Senior Care offices serving the Greater Pittsburgh area, visitwww.homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh or call 1-866-996-<strong>10</strong>87.
Service • Knowledge •CommitmentIssue No. <strong>10</strong> wphospitalnews.com| 25Artists’, Photographers’ CreationsBrighten Kane Glen HazelElderCareThe walls at the Kane Regional Center in Glen Hazel have been transformed into awork of art thanks to talented artists and creative photographers from the MilestoneCenters for People with Behavioral and Intellectual Challenges located in Wilkinsburg.Approximately <strong>10</strong>0 pieces of art such as framed paintings, drawings and sculpturehave been on display at Kane Glen Hazel since May 26, and 40 photographs are part ofthe project. The entire collection is entitled “The Art of Giving.”One of the 22 artists, George Gaydos, had more than 20 of his paintings in the KaneGlen Hazel lobby. Gaydos is a Pittsburgh native who has been painting since the mid-1970’s. He is part of the Milestone Day Treatment Therapeutic Art Programs. Painting,Gaydos said, has been part of his life for decades and he wants to give back to othersthrough his artwork.“Art is therapy for me,”said Gaydos, who attendedthe Art Institute of Pittsburghin the 1970’s and receiveda certificate in airbrush painting. “I enjoydoing things for peoplewho appreciate the art. Iteach the people that wantto learn. I have been inhospitals and institutionsmyself. I remember beingin (the former) MayviewState <strong>Hospital</strong> in 1988 andthere was nothing on thewalls — nothing to take your mind off things. Everyone needs a little bit of fantasyin their life. It is going to lift your spirits.”Gaydos’ work is intended to lift the spirits of residents, staff and visitors at GlenHazel. The artwork donated by members of the Day Treatment Therapeutic Art Programscertainly has sparked interest and started more than a few conversations.“The key feeling about this artwork is that George and other artists in the organizationhave received services their entire lives, and now they are returning services bymaking their artwork visible to our residents and the residents at Kane Glen Hazel,”said Jennifer Macioce, LCSW, Director of Day Treatment and Deaf Services at MilestoneCenters.Kirsten Ervin, a therapistat Milestone and formergallery manager,coordinated the art project.She and Gaydos worked togethereach week to matand frame the art in frames donated by the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Panza Gallery,Carnegie Mellon Art Department and several individual Pittsburgh artists. Gaydos, aself-employed carpenter for 30 years, donated hours of time and expertise to the framingprocess. “George has taught me so much about framing, and this is after I ran a galleryfor three years” Ervin said.In addition to the paintings, a second endeavor involving Milestone and Kane GlenHazel was a success. Kane residents were asked to compile a list of their favorite locationsthroughout the Pittsburgh region to be photographed by a Milestone art therapygroup.“The photography group has met with Kane residents,” Macioce said. “They had aquestionnaire that asked three questions: Where in Pittsburgh are you originally from?;What are your three favorite places in Pittsburgh?; and if you could only have one pictureof Pittsburgh that you could keep with you, what would it be? Once that informationis compiled, the group decided which images to shoot based on the answers.”Five photographers participated in the project and spent weeks shooting photographsin Bloomfield, Lawrenceville and the South Side as per the request of the Kane GlenHazel residents. The photographs were framed and displayed at Kane Glen Hazel.Jessica Kalmar, a photographer and instructor at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, is along-time volunteer with the Milestone photography group. She coordinated the photographyportion of the exhibit displayed at Kane Glen Hazel.“The artwork on display has been quite impressive,” said Albert Pantone, RecreationTherapy Supervisor at Kane Glen Hazel and one of the project organizers. “The photographscomplement the artwork. We are proud that Kane Glen Hazel and MilestoneCenters have teamed to produce such an aesthetically pleasing and worthwhile project.”For more information, contact Jennifer Macioce, LCSW, Director of Day Treatmentand Deaf Services at Milestone Centers at 412.473.8059, or Albert Pantone, Kane GlenHazel Recreation Therapy Supervisor, at 412.422.6993.Helping People Live Life Better!PHARMACY SERVICESMEDICAL EQUIPMENTHOME ACCESSIBILITY AIDSMEDICAL SUPPLIESBARIATRIC MEDICAL EQUIPMENTRESPIRATORY SERVICESDIRECT INSURANCE BILLINGDELIVERY AVAILABLEDIRECT INSURANCE BILLINGDELIVERY AVAILABLE800-472-2440www.blackburnsmed.comSince 1936SHOWROOM83 Dutilh RoadCranberry Twp, PA 16066724-776-0600PHARMACY / SHOWROOM301 Corbet StreetTarentum, PA 15084724-224-9<strong>10</strong>0SHOWROOM308 East Sixth StreetErie, PA 16507814-454-2863
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