The Blue Mountain eagle., November 25, 2020, Page 3, Image 3

NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
A3
Respect at the end of the journey
November is National
Hospice and Palliative
Care Month
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
November may be a time
of gratitude for many, but the
month also recognizes the
vital effort to provide comfort
by hospice and palliative care
workers.
Erin Gosnell, the hospice
case manager at Blue Moun-
tain Home Health and Hos-
pice in John Day, said hospice
is focused on end of life care
for people who have a termi-
nal diagnosis. Hospice also
provides physical, emotional
and spiritual support to the
patient and family.
Palliative care provides
comfort while a patient con-
tinues to seek treatment for a
terminal diagnosis.
“The family and the pri-
mary caregivers are all
supported by our hospice
team for the full course of
a patient’s hospice time,”
Gosnell said. “That support
isn’t just the patient receiv-
ing care, but it also con-
tinues past that to help the
caregiver and family cope
with the next chapter of life
and go through the grief
process.”
The family also has access
to grief and bereavement sup-
port for up to a year after the
patient passes away.
Gosnell said it’s common
for patients to receive hospice
care when they’re in a medi-
cal crisis very close to the end
of their life. Hospice is not
always understood or utilized
because the patient is in crisis
mode, Gosnell said.
She said it is important for
patients with a terminal diag-
nosis to request information
on hospice early so wishes can
Contributed photo
The hospice staff at Blue Mountain Home Health and Hospice.
and looking into placement
at other facilities for addi-
tional care.
A chaplain focuses on the
spiritual health and well-be-
ing of a patient and their fam-
ily. Gosnell said the chaplain
and social worker continue
working after a patient’s
“I THINK SO MANY TIMES DEATH IS NOT TALKED
ABOUT, AND IT’S A SCARY THING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT
IT IS A PART OF LIFE JUST LIKE BIRTH IS. I THINK SO
MANY TIMES WE DON’T TALK ABOUT IT, AND IT GETS
OVERLOOKED, BUT I THINK IT DESERVES AS MUCH
ATTENTION, BEAUTY AND RESPECT AS THE BEGINNING.”
death as they provide families
with bereavement care.
Certified nursing assistants
provide personal care for a
hospice patient from bathing
and dressing to light house-
keeping, which can lighten
the load for caregivers.
Dr. Zac Bailey is the hos-
pice medical director and
plays a role in managing hos-
pice care and overseeing the
program for Blue Mountain
Hospital District.
Gosnell said each disci-
pline plays an important part
in hospice care because they
all work toward providing the
physical, emotional and spir-
itual support a patient and
family needs.
Gosnell shared her favor-
ite quote on hospice: “Hos-
pice matters. The end of life
deserves as much beauty, care
and respect as the beginning.”
“I think so many times
death is not talked about,
and it’s a scary thing to talk
about, but it is a part of life
just like birth is,” Gosnell
said. “I think so many times
we don’t talk about it, and it
gets overlooked, but I think
it deserves as much atten-
tion, beauty and respect as
the beginning.”
—Erin Gosnell, Blue Mountain Home Health and Hospice case manager
be known and the process can
start before a crisis.
“You can be prepared,
but you really can’t be pre-
pared enough to face the end
of life and that grief,” Gos-
nell said. “It’s better to have
all the support and education
and resources available early
on instead of the end.”
The decision to go into
hospice carries a substan-
tial weight. A patient chooses
comfort over a curative route
of care, Gosnell said.
She said the decision should
be reviewed with a physician,
but many times families will
say they wish they started the
process sooner.
As the hospice case man-
ager, Gosnell provides edu-
cation and consultations on
hospice, and pre-screens
patients to see if they meet
the insurance admissions
criteria.
“Even if patients have a
diagnosis but aren’t quite
ready for hospice and just
want some information, it’s
so important to look at the
resources and information
so you’re fully informed and
able to make a better deci-
sion when the time comes,”
Gosnell said.
There are multiple disci-
plines involved in the hos-
pice team that deal with vari-
ous key parts of hospice care.
The nursing staff handles
the bulk of the physical care
of the patients.
A social worker provides
bereavement and grief sup-
port. Guidance is also pro-
vided for a patient and their
family to handle end-of-
life issues such as ensuring
financial affairs are in order
December 12th at 6:00 pm
Downtown John Day
e
Them y
e
d
a
t
Par
Coun
t
Gran ong
Str
THANK YOU,
GRANT COUNTY!
I am so grateful that you voted for me to be your
treasurer. All of you that put my signs out, Greg
Jackson & Martin Leuenberger for the letters of support
to the paper and my talented daughter-in-law, Marcie
Ellison, for the wonderful Facebook ads.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Julie Ellison
Preregister at John Day Auto Napa,
Bank of Eastern Oregon, or
City of John Day
Register day of
$10 entry fee
3-5:30pm@
Grant
Western
Extra Parking at the John Day
Greenhouse and the Fairgrounds for
social distancing due to COVID-19.
S217882-1
S215881-1
Greenbacks make
great stocking
stuffers and
gift ideas
Shop
Grant
County!
Wishing
each of you
You
a Wonderful Season
of Thanksgiving.
John Day
Prairie City
200 W. Main Street
(541) 575-1862
178 N.W. Front Street
(541) 628-7040
Janice Provencher, Branch Mgr
Andrea Austinson, Branch Mgr
Local Schools &
Programs Benefit
Strengthens
Local Economy
S215576-1
Bob Quinton, Ag & Commercial Loan Officer
Rates & terms may vary. All loans subject to credit approval. Member FDIC. NMLS #414459
Shop Local
Grant County Greenbacks keep 100% of your money
at home. Purchase them at the Grant County Chamber
of Commerce. They come in denominations of $5,
$15, and $25 and may be redeemed at all Grant
County businesses who are Chamber members.
Grant County Chamber of Commerce
301 W. Main St. • John Day, OR 97845
541-575-0547
EQUAL HOUSING
LENDER
S216705-1