There are many ways you can give back in your community. So why volunteer at a hospice? That’s a fair question to ask when you’re considering how you can donate your time and talents. Hospice volunteers are tasked with a very special mission: to bring smiles to our terminally ill patients. Here’s what you need to know about why it’s so important to volunteer at a hospice.
Palliative care in US hospitals has risen steadily over the past 16 years, with more than three-quarters of the nation’s hospitals and health systems offering programs, according to a recent report from the Center to Advance Palliative Care. However, many who would most benefit from palliative care simply don’t have access to it, which can ultimately diminish patients’ quality of life while simultaneously driving up healthcare costs.
What would you do on your perfect day? That’s what we ask our patients. Then our team gets to work making it happen as their Gift of a Day, a unique service provided by Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care designed to bring joy to patients and their families.
The holidays are a beautiful time for families to gather together to celebrate their past and their present. When a loved one has dementia, they may struggle with the recent past, but they can often share stories of their youth. Take the time to listen.
Congestive heart failure is a chronic progressive condition, sometimes called simply “heart failure” or “CHF.” This condition causes fluid to build up around the heart, limiting its ability to pump efficiently. When a person’s heart ventricles don’t pump enough blood volume to the body, blood and other fluids back up inside their lungs, liver, abdomen, and lower extremities.
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia are progressive diseases that slowly destroy memory and other mental skills. When a loved one has dementia, the most important thing to do is keep them comfortable, happy, and safe. Small gifts for someone with dementia can brighten their day and provide extra stimulation.
