Hospice of Southern Illinois

Premiere Local Hospice Provider

In One Word, Hospice of Southern Illinois is a Blessing

Simply the Word Blessing

Dear Friend,

      I never thought I would be in hospice care but last December I was given two weeks to live.  I had been in and out of the hospital most every month during 2019 and my body was not tolerating cancer treatment.  When my wife, Louise and I  first met with the nurse from Hospice of Southern Illinois, I politely declined their services.  The nurse was nice and explained everything to me but I wasn’t ready.  I had seven different doctors and I went to several appointments a week.  How could I just stop going to all of them?  You see, I literally thought hospice care meant that you went home, a volunteer came and sat with you and waited for you to die.  Boy, was I wrong.

” If I had to describe my experience with Hospice of Southern Illinois in one word, it would simply be the word blessing.“

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Hospice of Southern Illinois Granted One Special Gift

One Special Gift – A St. Louis Wish

Have you ever reflected on what makes you happy? Maybe there is one activity that would make a difference in your life or provide joy during a solemn time. Everyone has something that touches their heart. Recently in 2019, a new St. Louis attraction, St. Louis Aquarium – Downtown at Union Station, grabbed the attention of one of our patients. Hospice of Southern Illinois’ nurse and the social worker asked how we could fulfill a wish for the Duvall family. 

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Social Work Month

Macy Wierschem - Orange Social Work Intern

As a Master’s level practicum student with a local University, I chose Hospice of Southern Illinois for my final 600-hour practicum. In May, 2020, I will graduate from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Initially, I was worried that working in hospice would be uncomfortable and honestly, dreary. What I experienced though, was respect and dignity. It can be challenging and emotionally draining at times. I witnessed the impact Social Work can have in a hospice setting as a true benefit to patients and families.

The Hospice of Southern Illinois Social Work team plans their schedule to be accommodating and meet patients and families during the point of their day when they can benefit the most from a Social Work visit. This is typically in the late morning and afternoon. The route is planned as a guideline to allow for crisis and triage needs of the patients that may arise during the day or night. My current knowledge base is from a nursing home perspective. Hospice of Southern Illinois works in patient homes, nursing homes, assisted livings, memory care settings, adult group homes, and hospitals.  My practicum has allowed me the opportunity to witness the Social Work team in all these diverse settings. Being able to go into patients’ homes has been so valuable to me. I’ve had to learn safety and etiquette when entering a new patient’s home, and also the technical realities of Social Work outside of an office. Being in the home setting has a different set of demands than being in a facility. The most beneficial component for me when going from different settings is that it allows me time to mentally prepare and decompress on the way to and from each visit.

One of the hardest skills I learned is how to be present and let a family feel their pain and loss. Often I would find myself in situations where I had no idea what to say to a grieving family. In some instances, I am sitting on their couch, in their living room, that has been turned into a patient’s bedroom complete with hospital bed and medical supplies in reach. I cannot imagine the challenges involved in changing your daily life in order to care for your loved one who is terminally ill and now on hospice services. I would be distraught if I had to leave my job and routine to be there for my family member each day at home. I would do it, but that is not anyone’s ideal situation. What can you say to this family?  I said nothing, I didn’t need to. I acknowledged how good of a job they are doing taking care of their family member and was in awe of how much respect and dignity they are providing. 

Overall, working with the Social Workers and the Bereavement Counselors, I was able to experience and witness first-hand the skills and techniques implemented by staff that I know are related to their experience and training. If I still have your attention, I want to use this opportunity to thank Pam Rorie and Lisa Simonin for taking me under their wings and answering all of my questions. Every Tuesday and Friday since August, 2019, they have shared their days with me, either in the office or on the road. I know it takes them longer to complete their documentation and tasks when they take the time to explain the methods and ask my perspective. Their impact on my education does not go unrecognized. Their impact on the community, its most vulnerable population, should not go unnoticed. Thank you to the Social Work team at Hospice of Southern Illinois for the difference you make in the community.

Thank you, Macy Wierschem BSW

Cardiovascular Medications in Hospice Patients

Matthew D. Clark, Pharm.D.

Dr. Matthew Clark PGY2 Pharmacy Resident for Our 4th Year of Our Pharmacy Residency Program
PGY2 Pharmacy Resident

The leading cause of death in the United States is cardiovascular disease. With the rise in the number of tobacco users along with our society’s push for fast food, this statistic should come as no surprise. Cardiovascular diseases can range from heart attack and stroke to congestive heart failure. What commonly accompanies these diseases is hypertension, or high blood pressure. Your body produces a substance called renin which leads to vasoconstriction that ultimately leads to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can also lead to kidney damage. In addition to hypertension, people with cardiovascular issues tend to have high levels of cholesterol. Astonishingly, our bodies contain both good and bad cholesterol. Low-density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol) hang out in our vascular system while our high-density lipoproteins (good cholesterol) work to transport our bad cholesterol to the liver to be metabolized. Build-up of bad cholesterol leads to plaque formation which ultimately leads to stroke. Fatty foods such as hamburgers and pizza can increase levels in bad cholesterol.

Elevated blood pressure and cholesterol ultimately lead to adverse cardiovascular events that can often lead to death. In order to avoid these events, patients are prescribed agents that lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It is common for patients to be on these classes of medications for numerous years. What about patients in hospice who are approaching the end of life? Is it appropriate for these patients to continue strict control on their blood pressure and cholesterol? Indeed, cardiovascular risks are very serious; however, these events are usually the long term effects of uncontrolled blood pressure and cholesterol. Therefore, the need for these medications at the end of life becomes moot. These medications can actually adversely affect the dying patient. For example, tightly controlling a patient’s blood pressure with medications can sharply drop their blood pressure which leads to falls and injury. Additionally, a certain group of cholesterol medications known as “statins” can lead to muscle breakdown and wasting in patients who are bed bound. As a result, these medications are commonly discontinued in hospice patients.

A goal for healthcare providers in hospice is to provide optimal comfort to the patient during the final moments of their life. One way to accomplish this is to minimize the amount of unnecessary medications the patient is taking. As frightening as stopping blood pressure and cholesterol medications may be, patients and families must realize that healthcare professionals, such as pharmacists, weigh the risks versus benefits of discontinuing medications. In this case, the risks of adverse events caused by continuing these medications outweigh the benefits of cardiovascular protection these medications provide for hospice patients. Cardiovascular medications are just one of many medication classes that can benefit hospice patients by being discontinued.

19 Ways We Made An Impact in 2019

19 Ways Hospice of Southern Illinois Made an Impact in 2019

Hospice of Southern Illinois is a community-based, not-for-profit, free standing hospice. We give back, connect with people, and build relationships to foster trust and offer excellent end-of-life care when people need us most. We are proud to share 19 ways we made an impact in 2019. We challenge ourselves and our employees, year after year, to stay engaged and continue the tradition of a caring and giving heart! We are looking forward to 2020. While we look to grow and serve more people, always in the forefront is our mission: to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness.

  1. Served over 43,000 families since 1981 – we are your local, not-for-profit hospice with our roots starting right here in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois.
  2. Celebrated our 38th year of serving our communities – Hospice of Southern Illinois is an experienced leader in end-of-life care.
  3. Welcomed Matthew Clark, PharmD, as our 4th PGY2 (post-graduate, year 2) Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacist – Hospice of Southern Illinois’ Pharmacy Residency Program, in collaboration with the SIUE School of Pharmacy, remains the only accredited PGY2 Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacy Residency Program fully funded by a hospice in the United States. 
  4. Moved to our new clinical office – located at 333 South Illinois Street, Belleville, IL. The new Belleville Patient Services Location will bring our patient services and administrative teams closer together. Further, the space offers warmth and professionalism. While paving the way for our future growth, it pays tribute to our steadfast, rich history. Altogether, we are proud to showcase it to the residents of the  Metro-East.
  5. Reached 5,000 Likes on Facebook – we are your resource for hospice education and news locally. Thank you for your support, stories, likes, comments, shared dedication, compassion and trust for our mission and those we serve!
  6. Marion Honor Flight – Hospice of Southern Illinois’ volunteers served on the Welcome Home Committee for the Veterans Honor Flight Volunteer Group. This group welcomed home 6 flights, actually attending 1 of the 6 Honor Flights. Moreover, 480 Veterans attended these 6 flights. Additionally, about 2,500 community members welcome each flight home at the Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois.
  7. Hosted 15 Virtual Flight of Honor programs – together with community members from Alton, Belleville, Columbia, Millstadt, New Athens, Red Bud, Sparta, Swansea and Waterloo, Hospice of Southern Illinois honored over 200 Veterans. Without a doubt, Veterans and community members alike feel the honor, pride and appreciation when experiencing the typical “honor flight day” without leaving their hometown. 
  8. Expanded Pet Therapy Program – our pet therapy program is a complimentary service and an extension of our mission. We focus on finding ways to bring comfort and peace to patients and their loved ones. Pet therapy has the power to offer additional support, while adding joy, companionship, social interaction, and emotional connection to individuals at any stage in their end-of-life journey. 
  9. Volunteers donated over 9,000 hours – individuals came together and shared their time and talents with patients, families and employees to support our mission. As a result, volunteers gave back over $244,000 in exchange for their time!
  10. 7% of volunteer hours were in direct patient care – Medicare requires a minimum of 5% of volunteer hours in patient care. Our dedicated volunteer teams exceeded this requirement. (Photograph: The Fidget Blankets project comes from Hospice of Southern Illinois’ Volunteer Barb Kunstman. She has been sewing our logo on all of the Butterfly Pillows, clothing covers, medical supply covers, and lap quilts for years. Most importantly, these are given to our patients year after year.)
  11. Presented and hosted over 130 presentations – we offer presentations, education, and resources at minimal or no cost to healthcare professionals, organizations and community groups.
  12. Collaborated with community organizations – Carlyle Lions Club, Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce’s Healthcare Committee Coat Drive, First Southern Bank + Employees, Highland Area Community Foundation, Kassly Mortuary 3rd Annual Christmas Food Drive, and Southern Illinois Street Rod Association (SISRA). Thank you to these wonderful organizations for your support year after year!
  13. Music and Memory – In 2019, Hospice of Southern Illinois began the MUSIC & MEMORY® Certification Program. As a result, certification ensures families and their loved ones have access to the therapeutic benefits of music. Additionally, it shows our commitment to person-centered care.
  14. Hospice Month Campaign To Enhance Quality of Life – we launched a National Hospice Month campaign, “Living with Hospice.” As an example, we showcased the moments and memories that matter most between families, friends, and caregivers who are touched by a life-limiting illness throughout their final months and weeks. Those featured in the photographs live each day to the fullest, making all of their days count.
  15. Involved in Salute to Scott – this O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber celebration welcomes Scott Air Force Base residents, veterans and community members in finding fellowship through a community event. Hospice of Southern Illinois has been volunteering for over 10 years at this celebratory event!
  16. Employees Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries – we are honored and proud to have employees who have a hospice heart and are the very reason we can continue our mission and philosophy. Specifically, they have been growing, changing and caring with us for over 20 years! Thank you, Deborah Hunter, 27 years, Donna Hinant, 23 years, Angela Stoeckel, 22 years, Jane Gazda, 21 years, Deborah Hogg, 21 years, and Pamela Rorie, 20 years. Thank you all your dedication to our organization and those we serve.
  17. Welcomed New Associate Medical Director – Dr. Joseph Jackson, effective June 1, 2019, joined Hospice of Southern Illinois’ Associate Medical Director Team to contribute to and help ensure the highest standard of end-of-life care for our patients and families.
  18. Updated our free phone app – Care | Convenience | Connection, Innovative functions, solutions, and resources to answer your questions and foster engagement at your fingertips. 
  19. Skills Lab – our education department has developed a one-of-a-kind skills lab to ensure our nurses have consistent, safe training. Additionally, collaborations with local colleges and universities allow our student interns the access to this distinctive, educational resource.

35th Anniversary Car Raffle Winner

Thank you so very much to all those involved in Hospice of Southern Illinois, INC.s 35th Anniversary Car Raffle sponsored by Watermark Auto Group, First Southern Bank, Huck’s General Store, and Simple Solutions Printing Inc. We appreciate your donations and contributions to support our mission! Purchasing a ticket helped so many patients!

Now without further ado… the winner of the BMW was LINDA MARTIN from Marion, Illinois! Congratulations and we hope you enjoy your new BMW!!!

bmw

3 Ways Hospice Can Help

3 Ways Hospice Can Help Families If They Choose Hospice Care Sooner

As a hospice provider, the largest struggle Hospice of Southern Illinois hears from families after their loved one has passed is, “We wish we would have chosen hospice sooner.” We wish we could have helped them sooner. While “the average length of service increased from 71.8 days in 2012 to 72.6 in 2013,” according to the 2014 Facts and Figures from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, still 34.5% of patients are still receiving less than 7 days of hospice services. While it is possible to help patients get comfortable during that week, there are many services available to them that they never have an opportunity to utilize. Below are three ways hospice can help if hospice care is elected as the care option sooner:

  1. Hospice care focuses on quality of life. Over longer periods of time, clinicians can create a more comprehensive plan for patients’ “goals of care”. This will ensure not only their physical pain and symptoms are being managed, but also their emotional and social needs.
  2. medicationsThe philosophy of hospice care is in the patient’s home, wherever home is. Choosing hospice sooner can provide patients and families or healthcare providers with the additional support they need through regularly scheduled visits throughout the week in the private home, long-term care facility, assisted living facility or hospital. Nurses can provide more education on signs of declining health and medications and counselors can provide stress-relieving techniques, caregiver solutions and grief support. Hospice aides assist with day-to-day needs like personal care.
  3. Specialty programs and services can be utilized which are beneficial to patients and their families as well. For example, at Hospice of Southern Illinois, specially trained volunteers can provide caregiver relief. They can visit with patients while caregivers run errands, rest, or take care of their personal day to day needs. A program for veterans, known as We Honor Veterans, focuses on ensuring patients get specialized care and benefits they deserve. Finally, bereavement newsletters reach out as a resource to families for up to 13 months after their loved one has passed, with on-call support available if it is needed.

veteran2Need to schedule an appointment to learn more about end-of-life care? Want to learn if Hospice of Southern Illinois’ care would benefit someone in your life? Please call, 1-800-233-1708, or visit our website, www.hospice.org, to access free resources. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness.

There comes a time… to ask how hospice can help. Visit our website, www.hospice.org.

Source* www.nhpco.org

What Caregivers Need to Know

An Aging Population: Roles are Reversing

What Caregivers Need to Know About Hospice

Baby boomers, a term that describes those born in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, are finding themselves in the role of caregivers for their parents. They are now responsible for helping assist their parents with day-to-day activities, healthcare decisions, and financial planning. They might be thinking, “When did I switch from child to caregiver?” As their parents age, baby boomers are faced with making decisions and getting educated on topics they haven’t needed to consider in the past, hospice being one of them. Everyone should consider healthcare options and determine healthcare wishes before they need them to ensure respect and dignity at the end-of-life. The following considerations will help lead baby boomers and their aging parents in the right direction when faced with terminal illness or end-of-life decisions.

ellen-headJust like you choose your dentist, pharmacy, and doctor, you can also choose your hospice provider to ensure a proper fit for each individual person or family. Hospice is a special healthcare option for individuals touched by a terminal illness with a prognosis of 6 months or less to live. All hospices offer a similar philosophy and are regulated by Medicare. Each hospice organization has special services that make them unique. For example, Hospice of Southern Illinois has an on-staff, full-time Medical Director, Dr. Ellen Middendorf, who provides our patients with a doctor whose only practice and focus is on Hospice of Southern Illinois’ patients end-of-life needs; our employees direct access to a physician for on-the-spot medication and symptom consultation; and our community as an advocate for end-of-life options. We also have several other programs and services including the We Honor Veterans partnership, a Hospice Home in Edwardsville, Illinois, and exclusively providing hospice care since 1981.

As a hospice provider, the largest struggle Hospice of Southern Illinois hears from families after their loved one has passed is, “We wish we would have chosen hospice sooner.” We wish we could have helped them sooner. It is a misconception that choosing hospice is giving up. Really, it means choosing end-of-life care that foregoes aggressive treatments. Some are not aware every medication, piece of equipment, and all medical needs related to the hospice diagnosis are covered at no cost under the Hospice Medicare Benefit. Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance often provide reimbursement for the costs. Generous support from fundraisers and donations allow Hospice of Southern Illinois, a not-for-profit hospice, to provide care in the absence of insurance coverage. In addition to saving families money, caregiver support is another valued benefit of hospice services.

When a physician tells a loved one they have a terminal diagnosis and that hospice needs to be called, it is not easy as you could imagine. The emotions become overwhelming. After that conversation, everything the patient and caregiver hear about how hospice can help most likely is not heard. Hospice of Southern Illinois is committed to patients and families through the dying process and grief experience. We want to get symptoms under control, provide volunteers to visit with patients, offer counseling services for peace of mind, and support and educate the caregiver to release some of the caregiver stress to be more of the family role they want to be.

The most important thing for caregivers and their aging parents to remember is no one has to go through the end-of-life journey alone. We understand this is one of the most emotional journeys you will experience. Hospice of Southern Illinois can make sure patients die with dignity, respect, and comfort they deserve and want. Hospice of Southern Illinois’ mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness. For more information, visit www.hospice.org.

Hospice Nurse’s Role

A Hospice Nurse’s Role in Different Healthcare Settings

bedIn honor of National Nurses Week, May 6th-12th, addressing roles of nurses in hospice care can help others understand how hospice care will benefit end-of-life patients in their home-like setting: the personal home, long term care facility, assisted living community, hospital, or in-patient residence. Nurses play an integral role in caring for the hospice patients including visiting patients for an initial assessment, planning care visits, determining medication and equipment needs, and working with patients and families on their goals of care. No matter what setting best meets the needs of patients and families, hospice nurses collaborate with the caregivers or healthcare facility’s employees to ensure their pain and symptoms are controlled during their end-of-life journey for a more peaceful experience.

Personal Home: In the private home, the family is the primary caregiver. Nurses provide intermittent care with scheduled visits determined in the goals of care meeting from an inter-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, hospice aides, and volunteers. The nurse can update the family on what to expect in the coming months or days; how to respond to physical or emotional changes; educate them on medication and equipment needs; and order equipment as needed to ensure the comfort of the patient.

Long Term Care Facility: Hospice nurses collaborate with nursing facility employees to offer added support to their team. The visits are scheduled much like in the private home. The primary caregiver, however, is usually the long term care facility employee due to a higher level of care needed for a patient. Nurses communicate with the facility employees to ensure, in addition to the excellent care they get from the facility employees, the specialized care received from hospice nurse is supporting both the patients and the facility.

Assisted Living: Hospice care is an extension of the care already provided by the Assisted Living Community. Hospice nurses assist with changes in condition, family dynamics, and impending death with regularly scheduled visits determined by the goals of care meeting.

Hospital: In order to receive hospice care in the hospital, also known as general in-patient services, patients need to meet specific criteria as determined by a physician. During the stay in the hospital, a hospice nurse would work with the hospital staff to control symptoms to ensure patient comfort.

Hospice Home or In-Patient Residence: Normally, the hospice nurse goes to the patient in their home-like setting. There are also hospice homes or in-patient residences that provide 24-hour care for patients who have a need for a higher level of care to allow the family to remain family and not a caregiver­­. These homes are unique. While many may prefer to live their final days in the comfort of their own home, for many reasons, this may not be possible or practical. A hospice home offers that home-like setting with the specialized nursing care that is best for the needs and wishes of the patient at the end-of-life.

Hospice of Southern Illinois is your community not-for-profit hospice serving 27 southern Illinois counties since 1981. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their loved ones touched by a terminal illness. On behalf of Hospice of Southern Illinois, we want to thank all the nurses who dedicate so much time and compassion to their patients.

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