Hospice Care: What to expect when your loved one is at home

A main concern for most people faced with terminal illness is whether they’ll be able to die wherever they call “home.” Hospice care helps eliminate that worry, making it possible for people to spend their final moments of life in their preferred surroundings. By definition, hospice is intended to help terminally ill people remain comfortable during the last six months of their lives. The care can be administered at the patient’s home, hospice inpatient units as well as hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities or residential care facilities.

When a loved one is receiving hospice care at home, these are the questions hospice providers are often asked:

• How will pain be managed? Hospice is an end-of-life care option tailored to the needs of each patient and family. It includes expert pain management, but also goes
beyond medical care, by providing emotional and spiritual support. The care is provided by interdisciplinary teams of palliative care experts, including physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains, bereavement specialists and volunteers.

• If the patient prefers to remain at home, what kind of assistance and in-home care will be available? Routine home care is available in accordance to the patient’s individualized plan of care. Continuous care, during a brief period of crisis, can be available for up to 24 hours a day. When patients or family members have questions or concerns after business hours, they can often get immediate answers and help by calling an after-hours service.

• What does hospice care cost? Does insurance cover it? Medicare pays for hospice services. Many states have established Medicaid coverage for hospice, and almost all private insurers and managed care plans provide coverage for hospice care as well.

For more information about hospice care or your end-of-life care options, call VITAS Healthcare at 321-751-6671 or visit www.VITAS.com/Florida

By Susan Acocella, VITAS Healthcare General Manager

You are welcome to join us on September 20, 2019 at 4:00pm at the David R. Schechter Community Center. Enjoy wine, tea and hors de’oeuvres. Meet board and committee
members and learn about the various activities offered and ask questions. Members who have joined our club from Sept. 2018 through Sept. 2019 will receive a mailed post card invitation. Current club members & guests are invited to attend at a cost of $5pp. Tickets are required and are limited!!!! Tickets may be purchased at the DRS Community Center beginning August 19th. Questions can be directed to Louise S. at 321/202-7337 or louinthesun@cfl .rr.com

Bernice Roth just celebrated her 93rd birthday with the Sassy (Surprisingly Agile Seniors Staying Young) line dance group. She loves to dance and leads a very active lifestyle. So no more excuses folks. Come on down and meet Bernice and the rest of the dancers on Tuesdays at 1:00pm. It’s all about moving and having fun. Bernice has a tote that
has this saying on it “All The Ills Of Mankind, All The Tragic Misfortunes That Fill Our History Books, All The Political Blunders, All The Failures Of The Great Leaders Have Arisen Merely From A Lack of Skill In Dancing” Moliere (1622-1673)

Here’s a way to help your club with little commitment. The 55+ Club offers 5 to 6 social events for the year Sept.-April. Each event is planned by our Social Chairpersons, but they also need assistance the day of the event, so we are putting together a “Hospitality Team” that will be the “busy bees” on the day of event with setting the tables, help
with decorations, food prep and sometimes serving. After the event, help with clean up. All the planning will be done, we just need a few extra hands to assist. Remember, it takes a village! If you can assist us please contact Louise S. at 321/202-7337 or louinthesun@cfl .rr.com

The garden bed located at the tennis court area off of DeSoto is moving along. Unfortunately the club was inadvertently assigned the wrong area and spent time cleaning and weeding only to find out they were assigned the wrong bed! They have been assigned #13 and they’ve decided that’s going to be a lucky number!! So back to square one with weeding etc. If you are available, PLEASE DO go over to the bed and weed. Even though it has been weeded, we know more weeds will pop back up and any additional pulling will help. It’s a nice little area tucked back in the south east section with a picnic table in the shade, so bring your lunch.

In the future Gene would like to plan a trip to a local garden, but haven’t decided where and when. Come join them at the meetings on the second Mondays at 11:00am at the DRS Center. Call him for summer meeting location, and please, bring a friend. Gene also can share some good information about container gardening! Contact Gene at 321/773-4647 [email protected]