Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States with one in five Americans developing skin cancer in their lifetime. The most common skin cancers are basal cell skin cancers and squamous cell skin cancers. Both tend to appear in sun-exposed areas, especially the head and neck, and both respond well to treatment and rarely spread to other parts of the body. The most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma.
On Independence Day, our thoughts turn to freedom and the liberties we enjoy as Americans. But someone facing a terminal illness may feel anything but free. They may fear losing their independence, dignity, and freedom of choice to their illness. Or that their illness has robbed them of the ability to make decisions about their medical care. These are fairly common misconceptions about hospice and palliative care. At Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, we know this couldn’t be farther from the truth.
No one wants to talk about death – especially their own or one of a close loved one. Yet we all hope to have a “good death.” We hope to pass peacefully, without pain, in accordance with our healthcare wishes.
When thinking about your final months, weeks, days and hours, where do you want to spend that time? When Americans are asked this question, 80% say they want to be at home. Despite this answer, 60% pass away in the hospital and another 20% in nursing homes. While not every patient wishes to die at home and some cases will require hospital care, most patients can live out their remaining days at home with the support of hospice care.
Determining whether a patient is physically ready for hospice is a simple process. Assess the patient. Review the hospice eligibility criteria. If there is a match, make the hospice referral. Easy, right? If life was black and white, making a hospice referral would be the easiest decision in the world. However, when you add emotion into the equation, it can be anything but easy.
Throughout CNA Week, we'll be introducing you to just a few of the many dedicated and compassionate hospice aides who care for our patients. CNAs are also called HHAs, STNAs and hospice aides. Today, meet Tanesha Fields from our St. Louis office.
