Lightways: Educating The Public About Serious Illness Care
Many people are familiar with hospice, but some do not know the meaning of serious illness care or palliative care. Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care is committed to educating the public about the importance of serious illness care.
Serious Illness Care, also known as palliative care, is offered to people who are experiencing advanced, chronic, or life-limiting illnesses, including cardiac serious illnesses. Services include pain related to malignancy and symptom management, care coordination, and support for family members.
“When Lightways changed its name to reflect our regional service area, we also changed the name of our palliative care program,” said Lisa Heiy, director. “We learned most people did not know what palliative care meant and we wanted to adopt a name that better described our program and its services.”
Grieving Before a Loss: Anticipatory Grief
Many people are surprised to learn that we can feel symptoms of grief before our loved one dies. We have a name for it: anticipatory grief. Anticipatory grief can be felt as soon as someone learns of a life-threatening diagnosis. Although it is like grief that is felt after someone dies, it has some unique characteristics that often take people by surprise.
Do Hospice Patients Need Hospital Care: A Caregiver’s Guide
One of the most frequent questions caregivers ask is whether a person receiving hospice care can still go to the hospital. The short answer is yes, it depends on the situation and what your goals of care are. Understanding how hospice works, and how Medicare and Medicaid coverage apply, can help caregivers feel more confident and prepared when unexpected situations arise.
Understanding Dementia Care: The Role of Palliative Care and When Hospice Is Needed
Dementia is a progressive, life-limiting condition that affects memory, thinking, communication, and eventually the body’s ability to function. As dementia advances, individuals often require increasing levels of support as the brain gradually loses its ability to coordinate everyday activities such as eating, walking, swallowing, and communicating.