Palliative Pearls

Feasibility of interventions and goals of care change as dementia progresses. An Advanced Care Directive should take this into account.

When rescue efforts don’t work well, consider hospice referral for in-home congestive heart failure (CHF) management. Prognosis in heart failure is tricky.  These pieces of history indicate poor prognosis: Brittle fluid management, including use of metolazone,...

People with end-stage Parkinson’s disease and dementia die in predictable ways. Most often death is from complications of falling, immobility, infection, delirium and malnutrition. These are conditions that you and your patient have been treating and trying to...

A formal medical diagnosis is not required to refer a patient to Hospice of the Northwest.

Saying “no” to some activities can give us a chance to pause, reflect on what really matters, re-establish a healthy balance – and bring joy.

Hospice of the Northwest offers a robust community bereavement program open to anyone in our service area, regardless of prior hospice use. If you or someone you know is struggling with grief and loss this time of year, explore our resources, including a self-service lending library, and learn how to connect with our support center.

As a loved one’s dementia progresses, loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing are expected. Rather than focusing on calories and supplements, you can reduce caregiver stress and show love in other meaningful ways. Discover simple palliative tips for navigating these changes.

People living with short life expectancies may vacillate between practical steps that prepare them for death and dreaming about what they’ll do if they survive beyond expectations.

If you were seriously ill, what would you say to the people you love?

Four important tasks for peace at end-of-life.

As dementia progresses the goals of medical care change and the advance care directive should reflect that.