Hospice
Continued from Page 6
“Some people know they
could live longer with radiation
or chemotherapy treatments."
Curry said. “But many would
rather live a shorter time at
home than in the hospital. For
them, the quality of life is more
available for spiritual consulta
tion. Curry said. Many patients
already have strong religious
beliefs and usually have
thought about death quite a bit
before they come under hospice
care, she said.
In every case, the hospice
staff strives to respect and ac
commodate individual religious
beliefs.
“We even had one woman
who was a practicing Bud
dhist,” Curry said. "Every day
she would have us light her
alter. It was just part of the nor
mal routine.”
For other counseling needs, a
medical social worker is
available and visits patient
homes regularly. Many times
this person proves helpful in
facilitating discussions between
the patient and other family
members, dealing with grief or
facing conflicts or other issues
that have not been resolved,
Curry said. Follow-up counsel
ing for family members after the
patient dies is available from
the hospice center, she said.
"We have a widow/widower
support group and a cancer sup
port group that meet regularly.”
Curry said. "It seems to help
many people to be able to meet
with others like them and share
their experiences."
"We have a cancer support
group that meets every Wednes
day from 7 to 9 p.m.t” she said.
“Anyone who is dealing with
cancer in their lives is invited to
participate. We welcome
students who have lost a friend
or relative to drop by. We are
always available to talk with
people who are having pro
blems with death and dying."
Another advantage of home
health care is that it is relatively
inexpensive, especially when
compared to hospital costs.
"Hospice patients pay $<>5
per visit as opposed to $300 a
day in the hospital for just a
room," Curry said. “After doc
tor visits and other details are
estimated, the cost is probably
closer to $500 a day in the
hospital."
Since tne MCNenzie
Willamette hospice center
receives federal funding, the
program is able to pay for pa
tient medicines and equipment
that are covered by Medicaid.
Curry said. “It’s our goal to pro
vide services to the patient and
their family as cost effectively
as possible," she said.
Howell agreed.
‘‘Medicare will pay for nurs
ing visits, and insurance will
cover 80 percent of the other
costs for most of our patients.
There are also other agencies
and alternative billing pro
cedures if people are very poor
and find it difficult to pay. I
want to stress that no one is
refused care for lack of money."
she said.
What kind of person is apt to
choose hospice care?
“The patients are real
varied," Curry said. ' There is
no typical hospice patient.”
"Many of our patients are
elderly.” Howell said. "But
cancer is striking more and
more of the younger popula
tion. too. There has also been a
tremendous increase in AIDS
patients."
Sacred Heart is currently
developing a new program just
to deal with AIDS patients in
Signs and Symptom* of Approaching Death
• Kespiration hmv beconw irregular and shallow with
«f without long pauses between respirations
• Change In pulse rata.
• Oral secretion* may occur with a "rattle " sound.
« Patient may tieeome incoherent. mnluwsi. agitated
and possibly comatose (umamm imis|
• lessened response to verhal coimmintration.
• Cool or cold hands ami feet. “
• Hearing Is the last of senses to kuive a person. Talking
ami touching cansoothe reassure ami assist patient in
making the transition to death.
• loss of bowel and bladder control may in cur.
What To Do After Death Occurs
• Pimm; a friend, relative. Registered Nurse or
volunteer.
• Notify mortician. (Arrangements should l»e made*
prior to death — speak with a nurse or volunteer).
• Notify doctor, if desired, otherwise a mortician will
.
• fk> not call police or sheriff's office.
the home, Howell said.
"These young patients dying
have a different impact than the
elderly,” she said. "We look at
caring for AIDS patients as a
challenge and something we
can do to really contribute to
people and society. No matter
how frightening a disease may
be, you always have to
remember that there’s a human
being there. AIDS patients
especially suffer from isolation,
and it’s our goal to bridge that
gap."
In addition to its regular staff,
the hospice center trains
vounteers to assist caregivers or
provide certain patients with
more care or time to talk.
"The role of the volunteer is
flexible and varied," Curry
said. "Often a caregiver will
need several hours a week when
they can get away to do shopp
ing or run errands. The
volunteer would stay with the
patient to help with walking,
feeding or just offer a listening
ear.”
Volunteers are an indispen
sable part of hospice care at
Sacred Heart, Howell said.
"We are always looking for
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people who are willing to do
bereavement follow-up and
visit people in their homes,'*
Howell said "We really depend
on volunteers to help us provide
those services."
Volunteers receive training in
body mechanics, communica
tion and counseling skills as
well as information about
finances, wills and funeral ar
rangements.
(kintinued on Page 14
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