Hospice Services: Providing Peace of Mind

By Archie Taylor

Death is an inevitable part of life. Even if everyone knows it will happen eventually, no amount of preparation can ease grief when it's time to say goodbye. How will you let your ailing relatives spend their last days? Most people turn to hospice care services. If you are considering admitting a loved one to a good hospice facility, here are some useful information you need to know.

All about Hospice Care

Hospice care is a service handling "end-of-life" cases. Families who want to admit their loved one to a stay-in hospice must have the certification of the doctor that the patient has a few months left to live. There is no set rule, but the standard timeline most facilities acknowledge is six months.
Hospice services may be administered at home, in a nursing home, or other facilities- depending on the preference of the patients or their families. A team consisting of physicians, social workers, nurses, and assistants is responsible for giving the best care to the patient.

Families can now get their much needed break when their loved one is admitted in a hospice facility. Plus, they can have peace of mind because they know skilled professionals will take care of their loved ones. Certified nurses and attendants will take over simple and complex responsibilities of daily care, such as bathing, administering medication, and assisting in pain management. Hospice services are available 24 hours a day and provide immediate response in the event of a patient emergency. The staff in a hospice may set up the medical equipment in the patient's room for those getting in-home services.

One advantage of admitting a relative in a hospice is it makes sure patients live comfortably and with dignity during their final days. Hospices guarantee quality comfort and medical care not only to the patients but to their families as well. They even have programs that have special supportive services for the patients by addressing their physical, spiritual, emotional, and social needs.

Who can get hospice services?

You can find many stay-in hospices for patients whose pain management needs can't be addressed at home. There are also facilities offering this service to those who are adjusting from the hospital to the hospice at home.

Hospice Facilities and Amenities

To provide comfort and guarantee the well-being of the patient, most hospices feature private rooms and amenities such as outdoor terraces and kitchens. These give patients privacy and a relaxed environment. You can find hospices at convenient central locations. This is so their families may easily visit them anytime.

Part of hospice care includes a counseling team that will support family and friends during emotional and spiritual crisis. The team provides individual counseling and assists caregivers and patients on stress management. They help patients and families deal with their grief and prepare them for the passing of their loved one. Here are some other hospice services the counseling team provides:

- Have meaningful discussions that resolve issues between patients and their families
- Serve as an outlet for family member to express grief and share bereavement issues
- Educate friends and family members about end-of-life issues
- Provide special counseling for the patients' children
- Check up on the family one year after the patient's death and provide counseling if needed

Archie Taylor works for a hospice care facility and familiar with different hospice services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Archie_Taylor
 
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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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The Dying Process: How to Properly Say Good-Bye

By Nelson Berry

One of the hardest things in life that you have to deal with is death in the family. Perhaps you already know that there's no easy way to say good-bye. However, you also don't want to miss the moment to do so.

There are no golden rules, but you can take heed of the following steps:

1. Remind them of the good things they've done. Even at their last moments, you definitely want them to feel that their lives are not in vain. They have contributed something not just to you but to the rest of the world. Talk about the good things and the pleasant memories. You can create a scrapbook or an album you can show to the dying. He or she can then turn the pages if he or she wishes to reminisce.

2. Don't treat the person too differently. Families and friends tend to treat the dying with a lot of pity and sadness. Unknown to you, the dying actually has a very excellent observation skill. They can easily detect if it's too hard for you to let go. In turn, it will be hard for them to say good-bye. Don't see them as totally different person. As hard as it may be, act as you usually do when he or she is still completely well.

3. Allow them to say good-bye. It's not only you who has to say good-bye. A lot of dying patients want to take the opportunity to do that too. After all, they are the ones who are going to do the leaving. It's essential you give them the liberty to bid farewell. Don't say, "You are still not dying" or "You still have a lot of days to live." You are only making things harder for them.

4. Listen very carefully. There are a lot of things the dying would like to talk to you. Perhaps there are still some activities they wish to accomplish, people they wish to see, or they just want to reflect on the possible death they are going to experience. Just be there to listen. There's really no need to give some advice unless he or she asks you.

5. Be there when the time comes. The dying may tell you they want to go alone, but the truth is it makes them really scared. So be there for them at the moment of death. It's going to be quite difficult, but it's one of the best things you can do for the beloved. Your inner strength may also be needed by friends and family who have weaker hearts than yours.

6. Keep yourself strong. Strength is one of the things you definitely need when you're about to face grief. When you know that it starts to dissipate, just use subliminal messages. There are many subliminal messages you can recite before seeing the dying or when you're meditating. These subliminal messages may be the following:

I am blessed by the friendship and love of (name of the dying).
I accept the process of death and grief.
I embrace the pain.

Nelson Berry is The Pioneer of Subliminal Messages Audio & Video Online and Subliminal Messages Expert for More Than Two Decades! You Love The Way That YOUR Life *Flows* and LOVE the Feelings, Fun, Fortune and Happiness it gives YOU! YOUR Dreams Really Do Come True!! Click Here for a FREE Subliminal Messages Video Download ($39.95 Value) Right Now -- Today! Try It: http://www.subliminalmessagesdownloads.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nelson_Berry

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Why Do Earthbound Spirits Visit You?

There are several things that attract earthbound spirits to a person:

1. The light you project is so bright they think you are the portal to the afterlife. This type of ghost is usually sincere and mean you no harm. You can cross them over quite easily by calling on angels to assist them in finding the real portal of light. 
2. There is something in the human host that needs to be resolved. Something he or she is doing is projecting a vibration to which the earthbound resonates. Could be drugs, alcohol, controlling/manipulation, power hungry, etc.
3. You possess an item (car, house, jewelry, furniture) that once belonged to the ghost. 
4. The Earthbound soul is mean-spirited and wants to pester a human just for the fun of it. 

 There could be other reasons, but these are the most common ones I've found.

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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What Is Euthanasia and What Can I Expect?

By J S Carrillo

Euthanasia literally means 'gentle death'. Other terms you may hear are 'put to sleep', 'put down', 'put out of its misery' or, less kindly, 'destroy'. Veterinary staff may use the term 'humane destruction' which is simply a technical term for putting an animal to sleep.

The decision to end a life is never easy. It is a personal, loving decision to euthanize a pet for which the quality of life has deteriorated. It takes courage to assume this last duty and it is our last responsibility to a pet which has given us love and companionship. There is also no easy human comparison. The bond between dog and owner is a very special one. It is easy to become emotionally caught up in keeping your dog alive when you know that there is no hope of him regaining his health.

Since it is you that decides when it is time to let go. You need to consider things from the dog's point of view.

* Is your dog in incurable pain or discomfort which cannot be alleviated by drugs?
* Has he suffered severe injuries from which he will never recover?
* Does he have an age-related or illness-related condition which cannot be alleviated?
* Is he suffering from a terminal illness which has now reduced his quality of life to such a point that he is no longer happy?
* Is the dog an old dog that has given you so much but is now having difficulty because of old age?

The decision almost always causes much soul-searching, especially if you and your dog have been companions for several years. What matters to the dog is quality of life not length of life since a dog has little concept of future time. An illness may be treatable for a period of time, but there eventually comes a point when the dog no longer enjoys life.

Having seen your dog when he is happy and healthy, most owners recognize the signs given by a dog which is miserable. Your vet will be able to tell you whether the dog has a treatable ailment or is approaching the end of his life.

In discussing your dog's welfare with your vet, he will be able to advise you and help you to make the right decision for your dog, but he cannot make the decision for you.

This will be the Hardest Decision a pet owner will make. Once the decision is made, there are other decisions to make ahead of time. This is a matter of personal taste and preference.

Should I Stay To The End?

This is a personal decision. Some owners feel that it is their last duty to be there. Others prefer not to be present. Many take a friend or family member with them for emotional support.

Most vets will allow you to remain with your dog during euthanasia if you wish. If he does not want you present, ask why and ask if another vet at the practice can perform the euthanasia with you present.

Not all owners wish to be present and there is no shame in this. Some people simply cannot stand the sight of injections. Your vet will allow you to say goodbye to your dog and leave the consulting room. If you are taking your dog's body away with you, he will call you back in afterwards. Your dog will be treated with as much respect and dignity whether or not you are present.

What do I want to do with my pets' body?

Do I want a Burial at home? Many people who own their homes chose to bury their pet in their yards. Great care must be given to bury your pet deep enough - at least three feet to deter predators. It is recommended to wrap your pet in plastic and place several large rocks on top of their remains before covering with earth. Many cities have ordinances against home burial so check with your local officials before laying your pet to rest.

There are also other options that your veterinarian will have. Discuss these options with him to make the best decision for your situation.

It's wise to prepare ahead of time for the loss of a dog. You determine what is acceptable for you and your dog. Having a plan in place before hand will make things easier when the day comes.

Once you have made the decision and discussed your options with your veterinarian, it is sometimes possible to delay euthanasia for a day without causing suffering for example, where he has a terminal illness or is extremely old and the euthanasia is planned in advance. You may wish to give your dog a last night of pampering, his favorite foods or foods which were normally forbidden. This is a time in which to say goodbye and reassure him that he is very much loved. However, if he is suffering, or is already under anesthetic, he will not enjoy having his misery prolonged.

The procedure of euthanasia itself is performed by an anesthetic overdose injected into the vein of a foreleg. A veterinary assistant will give the dog an injection of an anesthetic in the rear to relax and calm him so he will not be in distress for the euthanasia injection.

Once the euthanasia injection is given the dog will lose consciousness within seconds of the injection starting and death follows a few seconds later. If you are holding the dog, you will feel him exhale, relax and become heavier in your arms. Urine may trickle from his bladder as the muscles relax. The vet will check for a pulse or heartbeat to make sure that the dog is gone.

Most vets will place the dog into a natural looking sleeping position (he will look as if he has fallen asleep) and close his eyes since animals do not always close their eyes when they die. Because all the muscles of the face have relaxed, his lips may pull back into what looks like a grimace. This is simply due to relaxation of the muscles and to gravity and is not a sign of pain, but it can cause concern if you did not expect it.

If you have made the decision to take the dogs' body home they will wrap him in a blanket for you so that you may do so. If you have made other arrangements with your vet, he will take care of those arrangements for you.

Keep in mind. This is one of the most humane things you can do for your dog. Modern drugs are extremely fast -acting and the end is very peaceful compared to the latter stages of a terminal illness or age-related illness. With euthanasia by injection, your dog will simply fall into a painless and final sleep. If, during his life, your dog has been a cherished member of your family, this is the last and often most compassionate duty you can perform for him.

J. Carrillo like to write about dogs. She has 2 of her own and shares her experiences with others. Gives her opinion and advice. She writes a blog that celebrates dogs. You can find out more about J. Carrillo and her blog at http://greatdoglovingfriend.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_S_Carrillo
 


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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Clearing Entities and Earthbound Spirits

Disincarnate spirits (“deceased” human beings) can exert a subtle or direct influence—both good and bad—upon humans. They may influence us without our awareness by offering inspiration that we express through writing, speaking, and other creative or artistic ventures. Or they may tempt us to do something harmful to a living creature or distract us from doing something that we know is in our best interest.

It is easy to distinguish between more evolved and less advanced spirits. The language of more evolved spirits is honorable and free of bias; these may be our spirit guides. Lesser evolved spirits may use harsh language and urge us to react to situations through our ego rather than responding through the mind/heart of God-Goddess. The ego believes in the need to suffer, feel guilty, judge self and others, and do whatever it takes to defend its position.  There are more humans inhabiting the planet than ever. That means there are a higher number of entities on the Earth plane as well. Author Ethan Vorly shares that entities are the unresolved karma or crystallization that was housed in the astral body of someone who has died and was not cremated. We know that fire and smoke are purifying agents, and this is probably why many ancient cultures performed last rites for a departing soul and burned the physical body on a funeral pyre. This is said to dismantle the astral body and transmute its negative karma. If this is true, then it certainly explains why we have seen such a huge increase in violence, depression, and suicide since embalming and burial became the preferred method of disposing of a physical body upon death.  The energetic pattern that was attached to the astral body of a human host during an incarnation is shed like a snake skin when that host dies. As the soul ascends into higher planes and crosses into the light, the astral body is left behind to roam the Earth plane where it seeks a new host with a similar frequency. During the ascension, people are suddenly becoming more able to see, feel, hear, sense, and even smell the presence of earth-bound spirits. I’ve dealt with earthbound spirits on many occasions. Jesus confronted them as well; if someone asked Him to remove the “demon” (as they were called in the Bible), He obliged.  Earthbound spirits feed off the energy of humans in order to remain active. They target humans who have similar fixations as their own. It might be someone with a drug or alcohol abuse problem, someone with emotional distress in their life, trauma, abuse, or someone who is simply ungrounded or not fully participating in their own spiritual development. So when an earthbound spirit finds a human in a state of despair, having weak or no boundaries, the earthbound spirit may attach itself to that person’s electromagnetic energy field that surrounds the body and is sometimes referred to as the aura. Not only does the entity start siphoning energy from the host, the negative energy of the entity contaminates the aura, causing the human host to feel out of sorts, have dysfunctional thoughts, feel physically sick, experience rampant emotions, or have cravings that are not their own. The videos at http://www.spiritistvideos.com explain the Spiritist view of entities. You may find them interesting and informative.  The best way to keep entities away is to raise your personal vibration through spiritual purification practices. Keeping your thoughts pure requires a constant effort, but as you vibrate at a purer level, these entities are less apt to bother you. It also helps to keep your aura close to your body and remove any negative or stuck energy so that these entities are no longer attracted to you. Keep focusing on the light within you, using affirmations, mantras, and clearing exercises such as smudging with sage. If things are really bad or an entity has been attached to your home or auric field for some time, you might want to use the alcohol and Epsom salt recipe mentioned in my book about personal ascension.  As you start to clear your field and remove layers of unresolved karma (anything not aligned with the law of grace), things can seem worse rather than better for a short while. I urge you to persevere and not quit in the process. For example, once you have cleared (or while clearing) a negative mental pattern, you may expose a dark entity, which was feeding on the energy surrounding a misaligned thought pattern. The issue brought to the light removed the entity’s energy source, which can feel unsettling for the host and the entity. Since at some time in your past you gave the entity permission (most likely you were unaware of doing so) to stay and influence you, you are the one who needs to dismiss it from its duties and help it move on.  Dr. Caron Goode says that when she did past life regression, hypnosis, and light-trance sessions, she always asked the client, “Why did you create or attract this entity?” Rather than trying to “drive out demons” you may simply need to thank the entity for the purpose it served and send it into the light. However, to get an entity to go into the light, it must first realize that there is a light to go into and that it will be a pleasant experience—many do not want to go there for fear of punishment.  Remember, earthbound souls are former humans now without bodies. The reason souls become earthbound is due to their emotional problems, and just like humans in a body, they need healing. Remain non-resistant by offering compassion to these lost souls. They need the same love and light we do. They don’t respond well to techniques that attempt to remove them by force. In fact, this can make things worse because even if the entity leaves, it may only be temporary, and when it returns it may be angry and seeking revenge.  The reason many clearings fail is because the person doing the clearing does not open the entity to its deeper subconscious feelings. Entities need to recognize and heal their deeper emotional scars. Free them from their misery by helping them see the role they are playing in the lives of embodied souls. Ethan Vorly writes: “Once the entity feels these deeper underlying emotions, it automatically allows the light in, which quickly transforms it. They are always sorry for what they have done and become loving beings as they are absorbed into the light where they are freed from all pain. It is truly beautiful to witness.” Once the entity is ready to move on, you can use the Entity Release Prayer in my book to send it on its merry way.  Yvonne Perry is the author of Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience (http://shiftingintopurerconsciousness.com), a book about personal ascension. She holds a bachelor’s degree in metaphysics from the American Institute of Holistic Theology and provides personal coaching for spiritual seekers. The host of We Are One in Spirit Podcast, she enjoys speaking about a wide variety of topics to help people realize their own creative power. http://weare1inspirit.com
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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Why You Should Choose Hospice Care

By May G Graham

Having a terminal illness is one of the most difficult things you will experience. Learning you only have a few months to live brings fear and frustration, but it is also the perfect opportunity to prepare for what is coming. Discuss whether you want to participate in a hospice care program and find a provider who will provide the physical and emotional support you and your family need during this difficult time.

Understanding Hospice

Hospice is not a place - it is a philosophy. It is the type of care you choose when you are terminally ill. It focuses on managing your pain and other symptoms instead of attempting to cure your condition. Hospice services will also give you and your family the emotional, social, and spiritual support you need, guiding you through the process of dying and offering bereavement support once you have passed.

Choosing this type of care does not mean you are giving up on your life. Stopping aggressive treatment is every patient's choice, and you may want to enter a hospice program if you feel aggressive treatment no longer helps and is only robbing you of spending quality time with your family. Most caregivers provide care at home, but if you have symptoms that require special equipment, think about moving into a hospice inn or a sanatorium.

When should you discuss hospice care?

Some people choose this type of care during the last few days of their lives. Think about entering this kind of program earlier, as soon as when the doctor tells you how much time you have left. This lets you prepare a care plan you and your family will feel comfortable with. It also lets you benefit from receiving support and education from hospice program experts.

Having consistently declining health, increased pain and other symptoms, repeated hospitalization, and decreasing alertness and mobility are some signs you need to enter a hospice program. This allows you to spend more time with your loved ones while receiving pain management.

Who pays for hospice programs?

Your doctor needs to assess your condition before you can enter this program. Medical experts need to establish you have a terminal illness, you only have at most six months to live, and your health is consistently declining to qualify you for Medicaid coverage. Your private insurance also covers this service.

Check with your provider and find out what items they will pay for. Medicare will cover medical equipment, care and support both for you and your loved ones, and medication.

Some providers of hospice services may charge based on your ability to pay. They will use these contributions to offset the expenses of other patients that pay little or nothing at all. You can also choose to pay privately even with Medicaid and private insurance coverage.

Do not wait until your final days until you enter a hospice program. Choosing this type of care puts you in control of how you spend your final days and whom you spend it with. Find a hospice service provider and create a care plan that benefits you and your family.

May Graham is a hospice care provider who discusses hospice services with families of terminally ill patients.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=May_G_Graham
 
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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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