Author Archives: judidoula

What is companionship? Synonymous with the words fellowship, togetherness, friendship, or closeness. “The state of being with someone or having someone you know, who likes to spend time with you”. All of us, young or old, have the need to be with other people. Nothing illustrates the importance of social interactions more than the isolationContinue reading “Companionship and the elderly”

What is quality of life? The definition of quality of life is a rather ambiguous one, it can mean different things to different people. Some of the main indicators of a good quality of life encompass the “person” as having good social interactions, (being able to engage with others), physical and emotional well-being, and havingContinue reading “Quality of Life”

Far too often, individuals who should be receiving hospice care are not receiving it. The most common reason is the belief that “once I am on hospice, I am going to die”.  I often hear people say “my loved one went on hospice and died the next day” but the reason that sometimes happens isContinue reading “Having the Hospice talk“

Pain management at the end of life can be confusing and scary. There are a lot of misconceptions about pain medications. Understanding the different types of pain, medications, and how the medications work is the key to successful pain management. The following are some common questions associated with pain and pain management: What are theContinue reading “Pain Management at the End of Life“

  WHAT THEY DO/ DON’T DO THE IMPOTANCE OF KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE Let me begin by saying that hospice is an invaluable service with a focus on providing quality care and comfort for individuals facing an end-of-life diagnosis. Hospice has access to durable medical equipment (beds, commodes, specialized wheelchairs, etc.) and medications that are notContinue reading “HOSPICE:“

The Benefits of Music at the End of Life Whether you grew up in the roaring 20’s listening to Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong; the 30’s swinging to Glen Miller and crooning to the soulful voice of Bing Crosby; the 40’s with the gospel voice of Sister Rosetta Tharpe; or the 60’s enjoying the growingContinue reading “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”

The holidays are upon us, and everyone is ready to make merry! But for some people who are suffering the loss of a loved one, the holidays can be anything but cheerful. We all have good intentions by inviting someone over to “cheer them up”, but this offer can be uncomfortable for everyone. So, whatContinue reading “Coping with grief during the holidays”

Honoring an individual’s choices  There are many ways to honor someone’s choices when it comes to End of Life. One of the most important is to have documents in place that clearly outline treatment choices. Today’s blog deals specifically with the MOLST form  A MOLST form is a medical order that communicates the patient’s wishesContinue reading ” Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST)”

End of life is not just about the patient, in order for the journey to be peaceful it requires the family and loved ones to take an active role in the process. In today’s society with so much fear and anxiety attached to the dying, it is not uncommon for people to spend most ofContinue reading “Open conversations are the key to a peaceful end of-life”