Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/244291
When a patient's doctor says, There's nothing more we can do, hospice says, There's so much more we can do. Turning Away, Turning Toward When Jim and Sandra considered Elaine's situation, they decided to replace what had become crisis intervention with hospice care. They called Agape that same day. As it happened, an Agape nurse was at Elaine's facility and could meet with them right away. "We sat down with the nurse and had a nice long conversation," Jim says. "We immediately lucked into Agape." Jim was surprised at the lack of bureaucracy in the admissions process, how efficiently the team worked and how quickly they made a significant difference for his mom. The Agape care team is made up of a physician who is board certified and fellowship trained in hospice and palliative medicine, an RN, a CNA, social worker, chaplain and volunteers. Once a patient has signed on to the hospice benefit, the Agape team springs into action. The first order of business is pain and symptom management. Jim said the Agape team was attentive to his mom's care from the first day through the last, over the period of five months. "They monitored everything carefully and would adjust the medication immediately to get on top of pain," he explains. "One night, I went to visit my mom and noticed she had thrush, sores in her mouth. I made a phone call to Agape, and they were right there to take care of it." As a disease progresses, symptoms can emerge, often becoming more severe. Agape practitioners know how to get (and stay) on top of pain and distressing symptoms, like anxiety, sleeplessness, nausea, gastric upset and more, even as conditions change. "It's so hard to watch someone suffer," Jim notes. "We were totally amazed that people could be so caring with someone who's in such bad shape." With Agape on board, Sandra and Jim were able to take a step back and allow the team to do what they do best. They brought in a hospital bed so Elaine would be more comfortable. Elaine's CNA, Maria, was, in Jim's words, "like a burst of sunshine." "After Agape came in, I didn't have to do it at all—I didn't have to deal with crisis. My mom had so much more care. Her hair was washed and set. They took care of her teeth. And she really looked forward to Ilyse, the volunteer who would come and do massage. She would tell me, 'That woman has magic hands.'" Agape's social workers and chaplains support patients and families, helping them navigate the practical, emotional and spiritual concerns that arise when someone is facing the end of life. There is nothing easy about dying, from the physical, emotional and spiritual processes to the profound significance of the event itself – and what it will mean for those who remain. This understanding is intrinsic to the hospice approach. Hospice Holiday The number one comment Agape staff hears is, "We wish we had found you sooner." Every family experience and needs are different, but having a hospice team allows families breathing space; an opportunity to rest in a blanket of care and support. Some have even referred to it as the hospice holiday. It goes something like this: With the complete care Agape provides, a patient feels better. She may even improve, because instead of contending with pain and discomfort, her energy is freed to focus elsewhere. When patients are well cared for, free from suffering and fully supported, families can rest as well. They can communicate, spend meaningful time, wrap up loose ends and even reclaim their places. A parent can be a parent. A son can be a son to his mother. "With Agape, I didn't have to do it all, and I just worried less," Jim says. "I can't say enough good about the care. It allowed my mom to live with peace and dignity." Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance. Agape cares for patients along the Denver Front Range, wherever they call home. Call 720.492.1988 or go to Agape-Healthcare.com. ACCREDITED BY THE JOINT COMMISSION FOR HOSPICE HOME CARE