Category: Caregivers Blog

5 Tips to Live Better with Serious Illness

Posted on by ViaQuest

September is Healthy Aging Month, a month ViaQuest focuses on ensuring seniors have the support they need to live as fully as possible. The national dialogue around Healthy Aging Month focuses on encouraging seniors to take charge of their well-being by aging with a healthy body (physical health) and a healthy mind (mental health).

Taking charge of our well-being also includes focusing on ways to improve quality of life for seniors living with chronic or serious illness. Living with a serious illness can feel life-altering, overwhelming and sometimes hopeless. But taking positive steps to cope with the stress and life changes of illness can help improve quality of life and feel empowered.

Here are five tips on how to live better with illness:

Understand your Condition

They say knowledge is power. Understanding your illness allows you to prepare for managing symptoms and lifestyle changes. It also allows you to work toward acceptance of a new reality by redefining your goals. Gaining knowledge will help you feel more in control vs. overwhelmed by your disease.

  • Talk to your doctor. Ask for resources for additional information that they find reliable and helpful.
  • Research national organizations. Most chronic or serious illnesses have national organizations dedicated to improving quality of life. They can be a resource for education, insights, connection to others and support.
  • Consider joining a support group. Support groups offer connection with others going through similar medical problems. It can be a supportive place to gain tips on how to cope and insights from shared experiences.

Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude may sound like impossible advice. It’s difficult to consider anything positive connected to a serious illness. But it can be done. Often people with a life-limiting illness refocus on what really matters. They shift perspectives to live with renewed purpose centered on the most important things in their lives. To remain connected to what’s important try practicing a “three things of gratitude” daily mantra. One easy way to do this is to end or begin each day with saying out loud three things that make you grateful. Researchers have found that focusing on gratitude greatly improves mental health and empowers us to deal better with life’s struggles. Reminding yourself what’s still worthwhile and positive in your life can help you remain emotionally strong.

Remain Connected

Illness can make you feel isolated and less connected to family and friends. After all, they’re not going through what you are. How can they possibly understand? You may worry that your relationships will change. The negative voices in your head can get really loud: they will treat you differently; you will become a burden; they want you to remain positive; you can’t share your real emotions. Don’t let yourself retreat into a shell. Relationships are vital to quality of life. Staying connected to others and participating in social events will booster your mental health. Time with true friends and close family can boost happiness and reduce stress. Friends relieve stress, provide comfort and joy, and prevent loneliness and isolation. Especially during those times when we need them the most support.

Pursue Joy and Purpose

Illness can rob our sense of identity and purpose. Life becomes the disease. But it doesn’t have to. Life can still bring you joy and purpose. Life can triumph over illness. Pursue activities that bring meaning, value and purpose to your life. These are the things that will shape and define your identity separate from your illness. If your medical condition has limited your ability to pursue some of the activities you previously enjoyed, pivot, and adjust your sails toward a new direction.

Travel virtually. You might have traveled the world and miss flying to far destinations the across ocean. Exploring the world can happen from your living room. Travel documentaries, movies, travel destination shows, and novels set in far away places can help you satisfy that wanderlust.

Do the “I wish I had”. There’s always that one interest we wished we had pursued. Maybe you played guitar in high school but gave it up. Or you’re an avid reader and always wanted to write a novel. Or the easel and paint brushes are still in the attic. Pursuing a renewed interest can help give you a new purpose and renewed joy.

Create something to pass down. What are you known for – cooking, jokes, stories, crafts? Write down your recipes, write a joke book, commemorate your stories, teach a loved one your crafts. Create something your family will treasure.

Support a cause. When you support a cause that is important to you, you not only help them continue their vital mission, you improve your emotional wellbeing and regain a sense of purpose. You can find great value in what you do for others.

Connect with nature. Studies have shown that spending time in nature is an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve your mood. You don’t have to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan, it can be as simple as spending time in your yard, picnicking in a local park, walking your dog, gardening or going fishing.

Find Extra Support

There may come a time when you need more help than friends and family can provide. If you have a family caregiver like a spouse or adult child, you may want them to simply be your husband, wife, significant other or child again, not your caregiver. Help is available. Research community resources like Meals on Wheels, senior centers, Area Agency on Aging, Aging and Adult Services or Facebook Groups dedicated to your illness. ViaQuest Hospice can also provide an extra layer of support. Our care focuses on improving comfort, easing the stress and burden of illness and enhancing quality of life. ViaQuest offers real support: expert medical care from our nurses, CNAs and volunteers who share caregiving duties, chaplains who offer spiritual support

and social workers who align community resources. If you have questions about gaining extra support we can help determine care that best meets your needs. Reach out to us today for options and answers.

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Hospice Care for Lung Cancer

Posted on by ViaQuest

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death: more than cancers of the breast, prostate, colon and pancreas combined.  To help increase education about this devasting disease August 1 has been designated as World Lung Cancer Day. ViaQuest Hospice wants to ensure that no one has to face lung cancer alone without the support, expert care and resources that can help reduce the stress and burden of this difficult illness.

The first reaction to any cancer diagnosis is often shock, disbelief and fear. There is also a certain degree of numbness where it’s hard to believe this is happening to you or a loved one. Then comes the reality where you struggle with understanding treatment options, you question where to turn for support and try to accept that life has suddenly changed. How soon a cancer is diagnosed can play a significant role in treatment plans and decisions about focusing on curative treatment vs. focusing on quality of life choices.

Lung cancer is one of the hardest to diagnose yet lung cancer is among the most common cancers. Unfortunately, when symptoms appear the cancer is often advanced. Advanced lung cancer is distressing, frightening and hard to manage for patients and their families, yet hospice, which can greatly improve quality of life for lung cancer patients, is underutilized. Though the decision for hospice care is never easy, there may come a time when goals change from aggressive treatment to focusing on quality of life.

When Is It Time To Consider Hospice Care For Lung Cancer?

The focus often turns to quality of life when the burdens of aggressive treatments outweigh their benefit or when the stress, symptoms and manifestations of the illness become difficult to manage alone.

It may be time to consider the expert care and the extra layer of support hospice can provide when your loved one is experiencing:

  • Uncontrolled pain
  • Symptoms which are becoming harder to manage
  • Distressing and chronic shortness of breath
  • Frequent trips to the ER
  • Frequent hospitalizations
  • Little interest in eating
  • Trouble focusing, confusion and restlessness
  • Declining interest in activities that once brought joy
  • Family caregiver experiencing growing worry about their loved one’s wellbeing

How ViaQuest Hospice Helps Improve Quality of Life

ViaQuest Hospice can greatly reduce the stress and burden of lung cancer while improving quality of life for both the patient and their family. Our interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, CNAs, chaplains, social workers and companionship volunteers provide:

  • Pain and symptom management: Expert pain and symptom management
  • Extra layer of support: Help with personal care  including changing bedding, changing clothing, bathing and helping with hygienic routines 
  • Reduced hospitalizations: Expert care and symptom manage that helps keep your loved one out of the hospital
  • Plan of care focused on individual wishes: Helping navigate decisions and empowering personal goals and wishes
  • Affirmation of the whole person: Whole-person care for the mind, body and spirit
  • Emotional and spiritual support: Chaplains who provide counseling and spiritual support for the entire family
  • End of life goals: Care that helps patients attain achievable goals at the end of life
  • 24/7 access to care: Access to care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Caregiver education: Education about the disease process and help preparing for the days ahead
  • Caregiver and family support:  Help in navigating the emotional toll of the illness on the family
  • Respite care: ViaQuest Respite Services provide families and caregivers with a necessary break from providing around-the-clock care

How To Get Help

If your loved one was recently diagnosed with advanced lung cancer or has been living with lung cancer for a while, ViaQuest wants you to know that you don’t have to face making important decisions alone. Reaching out to ViaQuest doesn’t mean you are accepting hospice care. Our team can help determine what support you and your loved one may need and empower you with the knowledge, insights and resources to move forward.

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There’s No Place Like Home

Posted on by ViaQuest

copd home health

6 Ways ViaQuest Hospice Program Keep You Out of the Hospital

No one is ever enthusiastic about the idea of going to the hospital. But in the era of COVID-19, a trip to the hospital has potential to cause more than just inconvenience – especially for people with COPD or CHF.

A trip to the hospital has always carried some risk of infection, and that risk has increased considerably due to the prevalence of COVID-19. Staying out of the hospital means staying away from an area with higher CHF and COPD COVID risk, and with the ViaQuest Hospice, you need not miss out on any essential services.

“Say a patient goes to the hospital for an exacerbation. The patient will be tested for COVID, likely due to them complaining of cough and shortness of breath,” says Hannah Cunningham, respiratory therapist for ViaQuest. “COVID comes out negative, but exacerbation is bad enough that the patient needs admitted. As much as most of us like to think the hospital is the most sterile place to be, unfortunately, that is not always the case.”

There’s no need to delay hospital visits for things such as blood work, testing or rehab when those things come directly to you. On top of that, the ViaQuest Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance, so there’s no worrying about costly tests or ambulance rides.

It’s Available Whenever You Need it

The hospital never closes for the night, and neither does our home health care for COPD patients. A commitment to 24/7 on-call nursing services means that, no matter when you feel an exacerbation or other complication coming on, you can get the medical assistance you need.

Everything Is Tailored to Your Needs

The ViaQuest team works closely with patients who qualify, as well as their families and primary physicians, to devise an individualized COPD home care plan. Physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, therapists, chaplains and volunteers all contribute to your care, creating a dedicated support system meant to keep you healthy at home.

“I try to make each experience individualized to the patient,” Cunningham says. “I look at their medication regimen and daily routine, and offer recommendations to help with their breathing. This gives a more personal touch, and I can spend as much time with them as needed, versus at the hospital where it is busy and the wait may be hours.”

It Has Everything You Might Need in a Physical Hospital

Advances in technology make it possible for the ViaQuest Hospice to bring all the relevant resources directly to you. In addition to standard supplies, the program can also bring medication and equipment to relieve an exacerbation. Equipment available includes:

  • Oxygen
  • Oxygen supplies
  • Nebulizers
  • Nebulizer supplies
  • CPAP
  • BIPAP
  • Adaptive devices such as walkers, shower chairs and hospital beds

It Keeps Stress Levels Down

The prospect of going to the hospital for an exacerbation can trigger stress and anxiety – and stress and anxiety can trigger, or worsen, an exacerbation. ViaQuest Hospice breaks the cycle by removing that risky trip from the equation. Our team can also help patients understand new symptoms, helping them better decide what warrants further care or treatment. And it isn’t just patients who benefit; family members and caregivers have less to fret about, too, knowing that support is on the schedule or just one call away.

“It also helps keep the patient indoors during extreme cold and hot weather conditions that can trigger an exacerbation,” Cunningham says.

It Helps You Get Proactive

Most people with COPD, CHF or similar conditions know the importance of breathing techniques to help regulate symptoms. As part of our customized care plans, the our team will teach exercises that make sense for you specifically, including breathing treatments and coughing exercises.

Small Changes Add Up

In addition to social workers and medical professionals, the ViaQuest employs home health aides who can help with household tasks that prove difficult or dangerous for patients. That means small meal preparation, personal hygiene and light cleaning – including cleaning of equipment such as nebulizers, cannulas, oxygen concentrators and beyond. That keeps the equipment in optimal condition, which lowers the chances of problems down the road.

Stay Safe at Home with ViaQuest Hospice

Our services provide a means for COPD and CHF patients, as well as individuals with other illnesses, to access health resources and services without having to make a trip to the brick-and-mortar hospital. If you think this service would make a positive difference in your life, reach out to us today to learn more about signing up for it.

How to Care for A Loved One with Dementia or Alzheimer’s

Posted on by ViaQuest

September is World Alzheimer’s Month. Join us as we educate, raise awareness, and put an end to the stigma surrounding dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Getting a diagnosis of early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be dismaying at first; not only does it affect those diagnosed with this degenerative disease, it affects friends, family members, and caretakers as well. However, this doesn’t have to be a debilitating diagnosis. With the right education and preparation, you and your loved ones can learn how to take control and deal with the symptoms of both Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

  1. Educate yourself on Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The first and most important step you can do after receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is learn about the symptoms, effects, and the best methods of treatment and care. There are even support groups to remind you that there is always someone going through the same challenges you are.
  2. Keep things simple. Ask and say one thing at a time in a soft, calming voice. Keep your loved one in the conversation, but try not to overwhelm them with questions or plans.
  3. Establish a daily routine so they will know what to expect. Plan simple activities, recognizing their current mental and physical capabilities. Let your loved one get used to the daily routine and try not to switch it up too often.
  4. Balance independence and teamwork. Focus on your loved one’s strengths and let them do the things that they are still able to do, but prompt them on appointments and financial reminders.
  5. Encourage physical activity. Getting exercise is important for both physical and mental health. Incorporate a physical activity that your loved one enjoys, whether it’s a light walk or gardening. Always have water available and be on the lookout for signs of exhaustion.
  6. Be patient, flexible and never show frustration. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed or discouraged, take a deep breath, count to ten, or leave the room for a moment if it’s safe.
  7. Encourage engagement with others. Have friends and family come visit and interact with your loved one. Include them in the conversation, address them by name, and ask them simple questions to exercise their communication skills.
  8. Recognize and be able to understand their emotions. Learn to acknowledge when they are scared, confused, or angry. In these situations, be able to assure safety, distract, or help as much as the situation allows.
  9. Take care of yourself. This is just as important as taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, but oftentimes gets ignored. If you find yourself getting tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, set aside time to relax, take care of yourself, and talk to someone about how you’re feeling.

While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, it is also not a death sentence. Patients can live for a long time after being diagnosed, so it’s important to learn how to cope with the symptoms and to enhance the quality of life. While you may feel helpless after a loved one has been diagnosed, ultimately, all the patient needs is a loving, consistent, and devoted caregiver who best understands their needs. That is truly the best gift you can give them.

For more questions on Alzheimer’s disease, or if you think in-home care is a good option for your loved one suffering from AD, call ViaQuest at (855) 289-1722.

The Benefits of Hospice Care

Posted on by ViaQuest

Hospice is a topic we tend to avoid discussing. For many, hospice emotes daunting feelings about death and loved ones dying. For others, it’s viewed as a “last surrender” and that the patient has given up on life. These misconceptions can not only lead to people not fully understanding the benefits of hospice care, but to patients being deprived freedom of choice in their final months and one of the most impactful care options available.

Here, we will take a look at what exactly hospice care does, and why it can be a good decision for your loved one living with serious illness.

  1. It offers the patient dignity. With hospice, patients can choose to focus on quality of life, allowing them to regain a sense of control and dignity. Care is about how you choose to live and centered on allowing you to live more fully in the time that remains.
  2. It takes place in a familiar environment. Hospice care can be offered wherever the patient lives or feels the most comfortable, whether it’s their own home, assisted living, or a nursing facility. Most patients feel more comfortable in their own home rather than in an unfamiliar hospital. In fact, ViaQuest helps reduce re-hospitalizations, keeping you home where you want to be.
  3. It is easier on finances. Hospice care is almost always fully covered by Medicare or Medicaid insurances, lessening the financial burden of overwhelming hospital bills.
  4. It provides options for family and friends, not just the patient. Hospice’s extra layer of support enables family members to resume their role of wife, mother, daughter, husband or son again by our ability to ‘share the care’. Many ViaQuest patients have told us our hospice care allowed them to regain precious time with their loved ones.
  5. It offers comprehensive care and support 24/7. One of the best things about hospice is that care is available when you need it – 24/7. There are no more frantic late night trips to the ER. ViaQuest is available by phone 24/7 with on-call nurses available during a crisis.
  6. There is no compromise in the quality of medical care. Even though hospice often takes place outside of a hospital, patients are still provided with all the necessary medication and equipment to ensure the patient’s final months are pain and symptom-free. In fact, studies show that patients on hospice have better quality of life and live longer than those who did not choose hospice care.
  7. It gives the patient control and empowerment. Allowing a patient to choose how and where they will spend their final months can actually improve the quality of life. They no longer feel victim to their own pain and symptoms, and can enjoy their final months.
  8. It provides counseling and bereavement care. ViaQuest Hospice has a team of social workers, chaplains, and grief counselors to guide both the patient and their loved ones through this difficult transition. ViaQuest Hospice also offers grief counseling and assistance in getting your loved one’s affairs in order after they pass.
  9. It focuses on physical, emotional, and spiritual pain.  While hospice nurses are available to keep your loved one pain and symptom-free, chaplains assist in helping the patient and family come to terms with their illness and offer any spiritual support the patient and family request.

Choosing hospice does not mean you’re giving up hope—it just means a different kind of hope. A hope that your loved one can choose how to spend their final months, a hope that they will live as well as they can for as long as they can, and be surrounded by people who love them. ViaQuest Hospice can provide you with tools and support to make the decision and transition simple, peaceful, and full of hope.

If you have questions about hospice care, need support dealing with an illness, or feel it is time to focus on quality of life, call us at (855) 289-1722. We have a team of caring professionals on-call, ready to help.

ViaQuest Offers Specialized Care For Veterans

Posted on by ViaQuest

In recognition of November being National Hospice Month as well as November 11 being Veterans Day, it is a great time to talk about serving the needs of our veteran population.

According to the US Census Bureau, there are an estimated 22 million veterans living in the United States. Veterans make up one-fourth of all deaths today; that’s 617,000 per year.

Veterans often carry experiences from their service that present unique challenges at end of life. For some veterans, the psychological effects of combat can remain dormant for years, only to re-emerge when they are facing their own mortality. Veterans at end of life often experience anxiety, depression, traumatic grief and PTSD. Veterans can also face higher risk for a variety of diseases including: cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and more.

Facing end of life for many veterans also means the resurfacing of troubling memories – coming to terms with what they did, lived through and saw during combat. Many also have ‘survivors guilt’ about having survived when their buddies did not.

As a veteran-owned company, ViaQuest uniquely understands veterans and what they experience at the end of life. The collective knowledge of our team, many of whom are veterans themselves, enables our veteran patients to forge a deep connection with us. They are not burdened by having to explain their experiences. Our empathy, understanding and related connections make our hospice team and veteran volunteers sensitive to the special needs of veterans as they face end of life.

ViaQuest Hospice offers specialized hospice services for veterans and their families including: relief of the pain and symptoms of chronic illness, comfort, spiritual solace if desired, help with psychosocial needs and education, resources and support for family caregivers.

ViaQuest is also an active part of the We Honor Veterans Program, and works to publicly acknowledge the military service and sacrifices made by veterans and their families during pinning ceremonies.  ViaQuest offers over 50 pinning ceremonies a year in our service areas honoring and thanking them for their service to our nation.

By recognizing the unique needs of veterans living with advanced illness, ViaQuest Hospice is able to guide these men and women toward a more peaceful and enriched end of life experience.

We hope to honor these incredible, brave individuals who served our country by improving their quality of living as they face end of life.

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