Caregiver’s Corner Blog

How to Pay for Hospice

Facing the thought of hospice care for a loved one can be overwhelming. Between emotional stress and practical concerns, another worry families often face is whether they can afford the professional care their loved one deserves. One of the most common questions we hear is: How do we pay for…
An elderly man touching a hospice worker hand on his shoulder

Continuing Treatment: Does Hospice Mean Giving Up?

When the conversation shifts to hospice, it often raises a deeply personal question: Does hospice mean giving up? For many patients and families, it can feel like a surrender—as though choosing comfort means walking away from the fight. In reality, choosing hospice isn’t about quitting; it’s about changing the goal…
Three wooden blocks with question marks on them

Important Hospice Questions to Ask

If you are caring for a loved one — or if it’s time for you or someone close to you to consider hospice care — it may feel unfamiliar and sometimes overwhelming. It’s natural to have concerns about what hospice truly means and what to expect. Asking thoughtful questions about…

Can a Hospice Patient ‘Cancel’ and Restart Care?

Deciding to begin hospice care is a deeply personal step. For some patients, it comes after weeks, months, or even years of navigating serious illness, medical appointments, and difficult conversations. Because this is a significant transition, it’s common to feel uncertain about what this choice means for your future —…
An elderly woman checking her pulse with the help of a doctor

Comfort Care: How Hospice Manages Pain Symptoms

When you’re considering hospice, one of the most common questions is: Will my loved one — or I — be in pain? This concern is completely natural and is the reason we make pain management and comfort the central focus of end-of-life care at Heart to Heart Hospice.  To help…
A grieving elderly man over the holidays

Grief Triggers on Holidays and Anniversaries: How to Cope

There is something about this time of year—the days shorten and the familiar rhythm of the holidays begins, with festive lights adorning homes, carols playing on the radio, and the smell of winter spices filling kitchens. For some, the season brings warmth and connection. For others, especially those who’ve lost…

Gifts of Presence: Non-Material Ways to Support Hospice Patients

The holiday season can feel complicated for families supporting a loved one in hospice. There may be moments of joy, but also feelings of worry, tenderness, and a strong desire to make the most of the time you have together. Often, the most meaningful “gifts” aren’t found in stores—they are…
Cartoon hands reaching up to grab hearts

Celebrating Hospice Volunteers: The Hearts Behind Compassionate Care

At Heart to Heart Hospice, our volunteers are more than helpers—they are companions, comforters, and friends. They bring relief to tired nurses, overwhelmed family members, and patients facing the uncertainty of end-of-life.  Hospice volunteers' empathy, generosity, and willingness to show up make a profound difference to all they touch. While…
A woman getting a genetic swap of her mouth done

Genetic Testing: Why It Matters and How to Get It

The approaching Thanksgiving holiday often brings families together, and amidst the laughter, stories, and shared memories, there will also be room for quiet reflection. November 27 is National Family Health History Day — a reminder that our family legacies hold more than memories. They hold clues to our health, helping…
A family gathered in a living room hearing a story

Family Storytelling as a Therapeutic Tool

We live in a world overflowing with stories — news clips, social media posts, podcasts, videos.  Most come and go, here one moment and forgotten the next. But the stories that stay with us — the ones that anchor our identity and shape who we are — are the ones…
A lit candle surrounded by peaceful white flowers

How Bereavement Coordinators Bring Comfort at the End of Life

An Interview with Rev. Dr. Brandon Hempel, DMin, BCC At Heart to Heart Hospice, the care doesn’t end when a patient passes. Every family, every caregiver, and every individual navigating loss deserves support—and that’s where our bereavement services come in, with over 30 Bereavement Coordinators across our locations in Michigan,…
A Hispanic duo lighting candles on the Day of the Dead

Cultural Traditions in Death and Dying

Death is a universal part of life, yet the ways people honor those no longer with us are wonderfully diverse. Across cultures, burial traditions and funeral rites reveal not only beliefs about the afterlife, but also how communities find comfort, connection, and meaning through ceremony and tradition. Exploring these customs…
A person posting a planner to a corkboard

How to Create an At-Home Caregiving Routine that Works

Caring for a loved one at home during hospice is one of the most meaningful experiences a family can share—and one of the most demanding. It brings moments of connection and tenderness, but it can also feel overwhelming, especially when the needs of the day shift quickly. Much like caring…
A sad child hugging his knees and being comforted

Supporting Children and Teens After a Loss

When a loved one dies, the entire family feels the loss, but for children and teens, grief can be especially confusing and overwhelming. Young people may not have the words to express their emotions, and their understanding of death evolves as they mature.  Sadly, many young people experience the death…
An elderly man sitting on the floor meditating

Comfort Care Without Medication: Managing Pain and Anxiety in Hospice

Caring for a loved one in hospice often means searching for every possible way to bring comfort. While medication is one option, it isn’t the only path to relief. At Heart to Heart Hospice, we believe that true comfort can come in many forms—including natural and holistic approaches that ease…
A grieving couple hugging in a hallway

Understanding Anticipatory Grief: Coping Before a Loss

The emotional toll of having a loved one, or being the loved one, in hospice care is complicated and far-reaching. The stress, anxiety, and grief can affect everyone in a multitude of ways, and bereavement and grief are large parts of the emotional journey of hospice for families and caregivers.…
A bunch of hands coming together to form a heart

Recognizing Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation: National Nonprofit Day

Heart to Heart Hospice goes out of its way to provide patients and caregivers with everything they may need at the end-of-life. Our teams are experienced and trained for end-of-life care, and the education, training, medical and emotional support they’re able to provide is priceless. For needs outside of medical…
An elderly person signing a legal document

Understanding Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST/POLST)

Advanced care planning, or the process of documenting an individual’s preferences for medical care, is one helpful way to understand a patient’s preferences better when they may be otherwise incapacitated. Often, living wills are used as an advanced care planning tool in the US, but the number of individuals completing…
Two elderly women smiling while eating ice cream

Addressing Summertime Concerns: Keeping Your Loved One Cool

We’re about halfway through the summer, and the temperatures are not letting up anytime soon. Extreme weather and temperatures are becoming the new normal, which can cause significant problems for hospice patients in facilities and at home. As we’ve seen on the news this year, heavy rains and soaring temperatures…
Overhead view of a spread of food

Managing Appetite and Hydration in Advanced Illness

As we age or progress through severe illness, some of the biggest issues we face often turn out to be some of the most basic: staying hydrated and maintaining proper nutrition. Many medical concerns stem from a lack of proper hydration or inadequate intake of essential nutrients needed to sustain…
An elderly man looking at the American flag

How Hospice Partnerships Care for Veterans

U.S. Military Veterans are an incredibly important part of our communities. These Americans – many of whom are our friends and relatives – have faithfully and sacrificially served our country,  protecting the freedom and security we enjoy. They deserve our gratitude, respect, and compassion, as well as a peaceful ending…
A beautiful cemetery with flowers and headstones

Planning a Funeral: Where to Start When Time is Limited

An important aspect of end-of-life care that is often overlooked is what to do once hospice care is over. Once a patient has completed their  journey, what happens next?  At Heart to Heart, our hospice care team can help with the next important aspect of the process: funeral planning. Grief…
Doctor pointing at clipboard

How To Navigate Finances and Legal Tasks as a Hospice Caregiver

Caregivers for loved ones in hospice or palliative care have tremendous responsibilities. In addition to caring for a loved one, they also become medical advocates working with the care team, family coordinators, and emotional supporters. Perhaps the most complicated role for caregivers, however, is being a financial and legal advocate…
Elderly woman looking through old photographs

Short-Term and Long-Term Hospice: A Caregiver’s Perspective

It is a common, but at times forgotten, fact that every person’s experience is unique, from the paths we take through this world to how we navigate life’s big choices. It also means we are all different when it comes to how our bodies react to life. This is just…
Hands holding a white head with flowers shaped like a brain

Mental Health Advocacy for Patients During Hospice

Receiving a terminal diagnosis and starting hospice can take an enormous toll on the patient’s mental health. With roughly 14.5% of adults over the age of 50 living with a mental health issue and rising risks of isolation, loneliness, and opioid abuse, mental health is a growing concern for hospice…
A smiling doctor holding a stethoscope shaped like a heart

The Impact of Compassionate Care Nurses

“The secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.” - Dr. Francis Peabody, Harvard Medical School Delivering the best possible care for hospice patients takes more than medical knowledge. It is also incredibly important for everyone on the team to be caring and compassionate. Indeed,…
An elderly woman watering plants with the help of a caregiver

The Importance of Gardening and Nature for Hospice Patients

"Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace." —May Sarton Research shows that spending time in and around nature can be restorative to our physical and mental health.  There are…
Person putting their hand on the face of an elderly woman

How to Talk with Your Loved One About Hospice

It is never easy to talk about dying. It is even more difficult to discuss the death of a loved one. However, it is an important discussion to have—especially when a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness. If we avoid the discussion or put it off, we risk…
Hospice caregiver holding the hand of an elderly patient

Caring for Parkinson’s Symptoms in Hospice

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. It causes damage to the nerves the brain uses to communicate to muscles throughout the body. PD also affects the production of dopamine–an important chemical messenger that helps neurons deliver instructions from the brain. PD is…
Man with cane smiling up at caregiver

The Vital Role of Social Workers in Hospice Care

When you think of a hospice care team, your first thoughts probably go to physicians, nurses, and medical specialists. It makes sense as hospice care is about minimizing pain and managing symptoms of terminal illnesses. However, care teams extend far beyond medical care. There are also spiritual coordinators, specialized therapists,…
Medical working helping an elderly man walk

Patient Safety Awareness Week: Ensuring Safety in Hospice Care

Caregivers and patients often have many concerns and questions when it comes to entering hospice care. One of the top concerns is often safety. Will the patient be protected from falls? Will they be protected from abuse and neglect? Can you assure they’ll get the medications they need when they…
Group of medical professionals clapping together.

Creating a Culture of Gratitude: Employee Appreciation in Hospice Care

It may be obvious to say, but the compassionate and driven individuals who make up our hospice care teams are the backbone of top-notch care. The comfort and support they provide patients, caregivers, and families are why hospice care continues to grow as an option for end of life care.…
Woman with her arm around an elderly person.

Heartfelt Connections: Building Meaningful Relationships in Hospice Care

Trust and understanding are key to every patient’s relationship with their medical team. It is especially important, however, for patients in hospice care and their families. Strong, compassionate relationships with staff and medical teams are core to hospice care for patients.  Hospice teams provide not only medical treatment, but also…
Doctor checking an elderly patient heart with a stethoscope

Managing Heart Health For Patients In Hospice Care

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Hospice care for heart disease patients, however, is often underutilized. That means many patients with congestive heart failure or other cardiac conditions are dying alone or in the hospital without comfort care and loved ones by…
Black History Month - Doctor holding patient hand

Honoring Black History Month: Pioneers in Hospice and Palliative Care

Black History Month provides us all the opportunity to reflect on the contributions and impact of black Americans on us and our country. This year we want to look at the impact of Black healthcare workers and creators of hospice and palliative care. From visionaries like Dr. Robert Lee Brown…
Exhausted woman sitting on a gray couch

Caregiver Burnout: How to Identify and Prevent It

Being a caregiver for a loved one is a strenuous job. Many caregivers devote roughly 24 hours a week to taking care of their loved one on top of working their full-time jobs, taking care of their immediate family, and any other life tasks that occur. It becomes a part-time…
Hospice employee helping a woman with a walker

Navigating Hospice Care for Non-Cancer Diagnoses

There is often hesitancy when patients and their caregivers begin the discussion surrounding hospice care. Concerns that hospice means “giving up hope.” Another reason patients can be hesitant is the thought that they don’t have the “right” illness or prognosis for hospice. While it is true that a majority of…
An elderly man wearing a hat and smiling for the camera

Cultural Sensitivity in Hospice Care: Meeting Diverse Needs at the End of Life

In hospice care, as the care team is crafting a treatment plan, multiple factors are considered for each individual patient. Pain management, best communication processes, and the patient’s views on doctors, hospice care, or dying are all evaluated to provide the best possible care during end of life. One thing…
Younger person handing an elderly person a gift

The Gift of Hope & Support During the Holidays

The holiday season can be a time of joy, celebration, and family togetherness. For patients and caregivers, however, it can amplify feelings of vulnerability and being overwhelmed. As communities transform with sparkling lights and decorations, hospice patients and caregivers often feel a range of emotions from loneliness to guilt to…
Man kissing wife forehead during the holidays

Holidays on Hospice: 7 Ideas to Create Meaning, Memories, and Joy

The holidays are an emotionally challenging time for many families with a loved one in hospice care. The worries over the possibility of this holiday season being the last, the want and desire to make sure it’s a meaningful, memorable holiday, and the hope of a joyous, loving time can…
Woman smiling at her companion in bed

The Power of Companionship

A piece of advice rarely given to younger people about getting older is to hold on to and cultivate friendships. Save money? Definitely. Keep exercising? Absolutely. Remember to make friends? Hardly. Friendship advice is often pushed aside for more personal or material tidbits focused on finances and health — understandably…
Person holding the hand of an elderly person.

Advocating for Compassionate End-of-Life Services

Becoming a care advocate for a loved one can be tremendously important and stressful. As an advocate, you’re there to be the important voice in the room who ensures your loved one receives the end-of-life care they want and need. However, it can be intimidating if you’ve never been the…
Woman looking at a candle while reading

Hospice Care Myths: Busting the Scary Stories About End-of-Life Care

There are many benefits to hospice care for you or your loved one. However, many people are still resistant to moving to hospice care. Making the decision to shift a loved one to hospice care can be scary for both families and the loved one. This is an understandable response.…
Man holding elderly man hands

Coping with Grief

Losing a loved one can be remarkably impactful on a person’s life. The grief of loss not only affects our mental health and moods but physically changes our bodies as we process and grieve. It can be a difficult time for some that lasts weeks and for others months or…
Woman next to elderly woman wearing pink ribbon

Breast Cancer Awareness Month – How to Support Patients and Their Families

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an incredibly important time to remind women to get tested and talk to their doctors about risks and early detection. This is especially important for women with a family history of breast cancer; although, it is estimated that 85% of breast cancer will occur…
Elderly couple looking out a window

Understanding Dementia Care in Hospice

According to statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is one of the top causes worldwide of disability and dependency among older adults. In 2023, 1 in 9 adults (10.8%) age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s dementia, and the CDC expects that number to nearly triple by 2060.  However,…
Elderly person in a wheelchair holding hands with a woman

The Role of End-of-Life Doulas

“Our worst fear isn’t the end of life but the end of memories” - Author Tom Rachman Navigating end-of-life care can take an emotional toll on patients, families, and loved ones. When the decision is made to put a patient into hospice care, it can be important to have someone…
Medical worker comforting patient in bed

The Role of Speech Therapy in Hospice Care

When your loved one enters hospice care there are myriad elements that come together to focus on their well-being during the end-of-life. At Heart to Heart Hospice, our care team is made up of nurses, physicians, hospice/home care aides, spiritual and bereavement coordinators, social workers, dietitians and specialized therapists. All…
Woman hugging her mother

Support for Caregivers of Hospice Patients

Being the primary caregiver for a loved one in hospice or palliative care can, at times, weigh heavily on your own mental and physical health. The challenges of advocating for your loved one while also trying to take care of yourself can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to…
A mom with her hand on the shoulder of her daughter

Back to School Season: Grief Support For Families

This time of year, everyone is gearing up for back-to-school season. New schedules are being figured out, supplies are being selected and packed, and all the jitters and stresses of a fresh school year are settling in — for parents and kids. For some families grieving the loss of a…
Elderly man meditating on the floor

How Mindfulness Comforts Hospice Patients During End-of-Life Care

Our physical health directly impacts our mental and emotional health, and it can be even more intense for those facing a terminal diagnosis. Breathing struggles. Intense pain. Delicate skin sores. Fear and anxiety. All of these threaten the quality of life and dignity for patients on hospice care. But practices…
Older woman playing the guitar

The Gift of Music: Healing Through Melodies in End-of-Life Care

Music as therapy for hospice patients? Yes! We all know that music connects, comforts, and uplifts, and music therapy at the end of life is proven and powerful. “In the realm of end-of-life care, the profound impact of music goes far beyond the mere entertainment it often provides,” writes Aging…
Doctor pushing an eldery patient in a wheelchair.

Seasonal Caregiving: Embracing Nature Therapy for Hospice Patients

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” — Author Rachel Carson, marine biologist and conservationist Getting outside and pointing your face toward the sun does wonders for your heart, mind, and spirit. Feeling a gentle breeze while…
Elderly woman with cane lost in thought

Addressing Emotional & Mental Wellbeing in Hospice Care

The death of a spouse or close loved one are two of life’s top stressors, according to the Social Adjustment Rating Scale of the most stressful events impacting one’s health. During Mental Health Awareness Month, Heart to Heart Hospice wants families to know the vital ways we care for the…
Doctor showing an elderly patient results on a tablet

What Diseases & Conditions are Eligible for Hospice?

Navigating healthcare can be tricky, especially when a disease is no longer responding to curative treatments and hospice care is necessary. Hospice eligibility opens up a wide range of services and compassionate care at the end of life, meaning a timely referral is key to ensuring benefits are fully utilized.…
Nurses with their hands stacked in celebration

National Nurses Week: Celebrating Hospice Nurses’ Compassionate Care

“Endings matter, not just for the person but, perhaps even more, for the ones left behind.” -Atul Gawande, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End During National Nurses Week (May 6-12), Heart to Heart Hospice recognizes the vital role our nurses play in our healthcare team and in…
Woman with her hand on man's shoulder

Hospice: A Different Kind of Health Care

“The end-of-life deserves as much beauty, care and respect as the beginning.” -Anonymous While all of us will face death some day, it’s often a seldom-discussed, most-unprepared-for event in our lives. That’s where hospice care comes in, which is a vital form of health care designed to achieve quality of…
Woman consoling her husband who has dimension

How Dementia Impacts Finances, Family & Beyond

As more and more aging adults are diagnosed with dementia-related diseases, like Alzheimer’s, the need for comprehensive hospice care grows. But challenges exist, such as the financial burden on patients and families, hospice regulations and differing timelines and goals for end-of-life care. How can we effectively support dementia patients when…
Bowl full of HtoHH bracelets

The Power of Community: Coming Together for Alzheimer’s Research

Alzheimer’s disease or dementia touches nearly every family in some way, yet each case is extremely personal. That’s why the Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation and local Heart to Heart Hospice care teams partner each year with the Alzheimer's Association for Walk to End Alzheimer’s events across the U.S. to…
Woman in a wheelchair looking at her granddaughter

The Goals of End of Life Care

When a patient with a life-limiting illness meets with their hospice provider, one of the first conversations will involve setting goals for end of life care. Each hospice journey is unique, whether it’s a quick death or months-long decline. Having important conversations about death and dying aren’t easy, but they…
Hispanic couple sitting around elderly parent

Serving Hispanic Patients with Spanish-Language Hospice Resources

Navigating healthcare and end-of-life hospice care can be confusing, especially for patients and families who are Spanish-speaking or have English as their second language. That’s why Heart to Heart Hospice, with coverage in Texas, Indiana and Michigan, offers Spanish hospice resources that help inform, provide clarity and empower patients and…
Business person holding elderly person hand

What’s an End-of-Life Doula & How Can They Help Hospice Patients?

Death is something all people experience, yet most are unprepared for it emotionally, mentally, and practically. Hospice care professionals help guide conversations between terminally ill patients and their families — and now a growing profession of end-of-life doulas are helping to meet that need as well.  “Dying isn’t a medical…
Sweater and pine cones sitting in front of a fire

Self-Care & Beyond: Taking Care of Hospice Caregivers Over the Holidays

During a season that’s supposed to be full of merriment, hospice caregivers can feel stressed, exhausted, and anxious. Caregiver burnout is real, and the holidays don’t offer guaranteed relief — they often bring added pressure of unrealistic expectations. How, then, can family caregivers engage in healthy self-care that ushers in…
Deborah and Linda Wilson

Hospice Care: Daughter Finds Peace of Mind for Mom in Nursing Home

Navigating the final months of a loved one's life can be an emotionally challenging experience. However, for Deborah Wilson, finding Heart to Heart Hospice brought a sense of peace and comfort for her and her mother, Linda. Linda battled multiple sclerosis (MS) for decades, and in recent years started to…
Wooden blocks spelling out Palliative Care

Hospice and Palliative Care: Similarities and Differences

Families navigating serious illnesses often need to learn a new language, from medical terminology to patient advocacy to knowing the next right steps. Stressful timelines and countless options can prevent them from getting the help they need, including palliative care or hospice care. What do these terms mean and when…
Elderly man holding his cute dog.

Taking Care of My Human: Pet Therapy and Hospice

“I’m so happy to receive belly rubs and play fetch with my friend today.”  “Maybe she just needs me to be still so she can pet my fur and share stories about her dog.”  “If he’s experiencing high pain or anxiety, I’ll snuggle up close; I know it will help.”…
Doctor pushing an eldery patient in a wheelchair.

Leading Courageous Conversations for National Hospice and Palliative Care Month

Some of the most difficult conversations are the most important ones, especially those involving illness and death. Everyone desires a peaceful death, but the topic often feels too delicate or too soon.  November is recognized annually as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and this year’s theme is “Courageous Conversations.”…
Group of American flags

How Hospice Serves & Honors Veterans

Helping U.S. veterans tap into resources, receive the recognition they deserve and finish their lives at peace are what motivate Schana Rosales, the Veteran Liaison for Heart to Heart Hospice of East Texas. For Veterans Day, we recognize the importance of veteran-specific services in hospice. With a background in home…
Business man holding the hand of a person

Pastoral Care Week: The Vital Role of Hospice Spiritual Care

Helping patients and families deal with death is a heavy privilege, one that hospice chaplains carry with dignity and grace. Beyond attending to medical and practical needs, hospice care includes a vital spiritual component for patients who desire it as part of their care plan. Mind, body, and soul are…
Person holding pink breast cancer ribbon

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Coping & Planning for What’s Next

A breast cancer diagnosis causes a fury of emotions, with plans upended and important conversations moving to the forefront. You sink all of your energy into pursuing treatments and a cure, coping with fear and grief, and tenderly planning for difficult “what ifs.”  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, presenting…

The Role and Benefits of Hospice Care in Assisted Living and Nursing Facilities

Hospice provides countless services for terminally ill patients in the home. What if the patient’s “home,” however, is a nursing home, assisted living residence, or inpatient hospice facility? Don't worry - hospice meets patients right where they are, no matter what they consider home. One major goal is keeping patients…

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider

When you or a family member qualifies for hospice care, the search for a quality, compassionate provider doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You want a hospice provider who offers professional care with heart and dignity for the final months of life. You need a partner who offers a patient-centered care…

National Grandparents Day: Honor & Memorialize Important Elders in Your Life

National Grandparents Day on September 10 provides the perfect opportunity to reach out to grandparents and reflect on their important role in our lives. Their wisdom, experience, and epic family stories make us who we are today. From sacred family recipes to memories of decades gone by, grandparents and influential…

CNAs Lend Heart and Hands for Compassionate Hospice Care

From bedpans to bedsores, the job of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) is often thankless — but their role is vital in preserving a hospice patient’s dignity and offering needed support for caregivers. CNAs are characterized as caring, loving, attentive, communicative, tough, stable, patient, understanding, kind, empathetic, and compassionate.  Many nursing…

Compassionate Hospice Care for LGBTQ+ Patients

Everyone deserves Dignity and Comfort at the end of life! It’s been said that “death is a great equalizer,” and most people want to face the end of life with loving support and dignity. This includes members of the LGBTQ+ community, who are often more hesitant than the general population…

Resource: Five Wishes Guide for Healthcare Crises and End-of-Life Planning

The nature of hospice brings important end-of-life conversations to the forefront. Final wishes, healthcare proxies, medical decisions and more are documented when creating an individualized care plan. But you don’t have to wait until hospice to get your affairs in order. In fact, an accident or health crisis can affect…

Hospice Care for Alzheimer’s & Brain Diseases

As the population ages, nearly every family is impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. This diagnosis can be a slow decline, weighing on patients and families as “normal life” fades into unpredictability and confusion. Compassionate care and support is vital. Heart to Heart Hospice is dedicated to…

The McCullough Family: Hospice Help for Rare Disease

When a relatively young man in his late-40s is diagnosed with a progressive rare disease, where do you turn for help? When it impacts life expectancy and daily living, how do you know it's time for hospice? What happens when the caregiver needs a break? These are questions the McCullough…

Top Hospice Resources for Caregivers

“Hospice” is a foreign concept to most families until there’s an immediate, critical need. Dealing with a terminal diagnosis, lifestyle changes, a crash course in caregiving, and the emotional and mental tidal waves can be overwhelming.  Where, then, can hospice families turn so they feel like they’re not alone? Where…

What’s the Role of a Hospice Nurse?

It’s been said that “nurses are the heart of healthcare.”* They’ve also been called angels, godsends, heroes, and agents of compassion — all true sentiments. In hospice, the role of a nurse takes on an even broader, yet more intimate role for patients with terminal illnesses who often spend their…

Benefits of Hospice Care for Lung Conditions & Pulmonary Diseases

Patients with end-stage respiratory conditions like lung cancer, COPD, emphysema, and other pulmonary issues often have an unpredictable disease progression, making prognosis difficult for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike. Lung conditions frequently fluctuate with intermittent crisis episodes or hospitalizations followed by repeated periods of recovery. As a result, hospice…

How Heart to Heart Hospice Offers Specialized Veteran Care

As Memorial Day approaches, when the U.S. honors men and women who died while serving in the military, we also remember the aging veterans who served with honor. As they approach the end of life, it’s vital to partner with a well-informed hospice provider to help ease anxiety about the…

National Volunteer Week: Hospice Volunteers Make a Difference

Kindness, compassion, and service are hallmarks of those who give freely of their time for the betterment of others. They are called volunteers — and they make a huge impact by providing emotional, practical, and social support for hospice patients with a life-limiting illness and their families.  “Volunteers help provide…

Start Vital Conversations Today: National Healthcare Decisions Day

No family likes having difficult conversations surrounding end-of-life decisions and death — but discussing these topics in advance offers necessary clarity and peace. April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, and the perfect time to start the conversation is now. “Making healthcare decisions in calmer times is wise and loving,…

Counseling Awareness Month – Hospice and Mental Health

When people think of “hospice,” they often picture caring for the physical needs of a terminally ill patient in their final months of life. But compassionate hospice care improves a patient’s quality of life — no matter the quantity — and that includes their mental health.  April is Counseling Awareness…

FAQs: The Differences Between Hospice and Palliative Care

While both hospice care and palliative care focus on a patient’s comfort and quality of life during a complex, serious illness, they are not the same. The main difference is this: Palliative care is given alongside a patient’s disease treatment plan, while hospice covers end-of-life care for a terminal disease.…

Home Safety for Hospice Patients: Tips & Considerations

As a caregiver for a hospice patient, you want to make sure your home is safe and comfortable for your loved one. Hospice benefits come with a team of compassionate experts, from nurses to social workers, but, as the primary caregiver, you carry the weight of daily care and responsibility.…

How the Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation Serves Families

A compassionate hospice team that’s experienced and trained for end-of-life care is vital for caregivers and patients, including education, training, and medical and emotional support. But what about the needs that aren’t covered by insurance, like transportation, utility bill assistance, emergency household goods and food, or counseling for those requiring…

National Social Work Month – What Does a Hospice Social Worker Do?

Social workers play a vital role in hospice care, providing empathy, support, and advocacy for patients with terminal illnesses. With the hospice team approach, the wide spectrum of patients’ needs are met through professionals who understand end-of-life care. Nurses, aides, spiritual care coordinators, and others join social workers to offer…

Role Reversal: Parenting Our Parents

You may have heard it said that we all go through four phases of life. Each of these stages reflects a progressive role that we have with our parents and our children.  First, we are born the child of a parent.  Second, we eventually become the parent of a child.…

Communicating Love to Your Hospice Patient

Nestled in the middle of February, Valentine’s Day provides opportunities for us to express love and appreciation for each other. It’s always appropriate to share your fondness for your loved one on hospice; you don’t need to wait for a special day. Hospice is often a short period at the…

National Caregivers Day: Why Family
Caregivers are Heroes

Family caregivers are often the unseen (and unpaid) heroes wearing many hats, like assisting a loved one with medical care, nutrition, hygiene, and other activities of daily living; coordination of care and advocacy; transportation; dealing with medical paperwork; serving as an empathetic listener and more. When a relative qualifies for…

New year, now what? Overcoming the Uncertainty
of Your Hospice Journey

The calendar page turned over to a new year, but you may not feel like celebrating if you’re in the middle of caring for a loved one on hospice. A “Happy New Year” seems daunting as you continue to face the sometimes mundane, sometimes ever-changing burden of caregiving. You could…

How 24/7 On-Call Hospice Support
Brings Peace of Mind

One goal of hospice is keeping the patient comfortable at home — but it also serves as one of the major hesitations to go on hospice even if the patient qualifies. Patients with a terminal illness and families are afraid they’ll miss out on needed medical support or hospital-level care…

Calling on Respite Care for the Holidays

Holidays are a time of joy and celebration, but when a loved one is terminally ill, this festive time of year also invokes sadness and grief. With the holiday season upon us, it might make sense to consider hospice respite care for a loved one with an advanced illness. The…

Away From Home: How Hospice Works
in a Hospital or Nursing Home

Many people think hospice benefits solely cover in-home support for caregivers and patients with a terminal illness. But in reality, hospice can take place wherever a patient calls home — a private residence, nursing home, residential facility, or contracted inpatient facility or hospital. Hospice improves the quality of life in…

Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation Supports Alzheimer’s Walks

Heart to Heart Hospice provides for patients and their families through medical care and support but also donates time and resources to causes near and dear to their hearts. Every year, Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation sponsors, and Heart to Heart Hospice employees volunteer at Walk to End Alzheimer’s events in their…

Caring for Hospice Patients Over the Holidays

As storefronts, neighborhoods, and city sidewalks transform into holiday wonderlands, hospice patients and caregivers often feel a range of emotions: disconnect, guilt, depression, loneliness, anger, and fear. Some families want to bypass the holidays completely, while others may want the celebrations to continue as normally as possible.  A loved one…

10 Facts About Hospice: Busting Myths About End-of-Life Care

For many, the term “hospice” conjures up fears of giving up on a loved one who has a life-limiting illness such as terminal cancer, congestive heart failure, kidney or lung disease, or dementia. The truth is, however, that hospice supports patients and families with a host of services that provide…

Providing Compassionate End-of-Life Care for Alzheimer’s

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease is an often difficult road that requires wisdom, compassion, and support. Over 11 million Americans* provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementia diseases. The need for dementia-related caregiving is on the rise. In fact, stats show that more Medicare…

What Veterans Day means for Veteran Hospice Patients

America’s veterans are rightly honored for their sacrificial military service, and in turn they deserve utmost respect as they face unique end-of-life challenges. But trauma, guilt, and other service-related factors may negatively impact veterans and their families when dealing with a life-limiting illness.  Hospice staff and family caregivers can learn…

When Breast Cancer is Terminal: Vital Comfort & Support from Hospice Care

Though it impacts millions of people across the U.S., an individual’s life takes a drastic turn the moment they hear the words “you have breast cancer.” October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the stats can be sobering: 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the…

Cold Weather Tips & Specialized Care for End-Stage Lung Disease

Difficulty breathing is one of the most stressful symptoms for patients with chronic lung conditions, and colder fall and winter temperatures can exacerbate respiratory problems. The dry, cold air tightens airways, resulting in heavy coughing, excessive mucus, shortness of breath, and increased discomfort. Patients often rush back to the emergency…

How to Manage Sundowners Syndrome at Home

If you’re a caregiver for an aging loved one in the home, you may notice they become more agitated and confused as afternoon fades into evening, often continuing into the night. You may be unaware, however, that this phenomenon is known as Sundowners Syndrome, or Sundowning, and is most common…

Personal Hygiene: Caregiver Tips for At-Home Hospice Patients

When you transition from family member to caregiver, you’re not only coordinating medical care, you often assist with personal hygiene and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). You want your loved one on hospice to be free from pain, but also to feel dignity and respect. Your family member on hospice…

Benefits of Specialized Hospice Care for Heart Conditions

While heart disease is the number one cause of death among adults in the United States, only 6.4% of Medicare hospice beneficiaries have a primary diagnosis that is heart-related. That means many patients with congestive heart failure or other cardiac conditions are dying alone or in the hospital without comfort…

Overcoming Gaps from Referral to Hospice Care

Many patients who discontinue curative treatments don’t take advantage of hospice care, even with a doctor’s referral. While hospice referrals appear to be increasing, one out of 10 referrals still never receive care within 30 days of discharge (source: Trella Health). Why is that? During one of the most stressful…
Senior man and woman on beach

Hospice Doesn’t Take a Vacation
– but Hospice Patients Can

Did you know hospice patients can travel?  Many imagine the last few months mean the patient is strictly homebound and bedridden with round-the-clock care, but undergoing hospice care shouldn’t limit your ability to travel, especially to fulfill last wishes or attend a celebration. Hospice doesn’t take a vacation, and in…

How Heart to Heart Hospice Benefits the Whole Family

An Interview with Gulf Coast Executive Director David Slaughter “We want our patients to have the best quality of life no matter what the quantity is,” said David Slaughter, Executive Director of Heart to Heart Hospice in the Texas Gulf Coast branch. He shared his heart for the hospice industry…

Pet Therapy Benefits Hospice Patients

Pet Therapy Provides Comfort and Delight for Hospice Patients “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” —Author Orhan Pamuk, My Name Is Red There’s no denying the special bond between people and their pets, who provide happiness, comfort, and companionship. The same is true for…

One Last Chance: Using a Memory Journal to Guide Your Hospice Visit

Visiting a loved one on hospice care can be a scary thing. You don’t know what to say. You are dealing with your own grief. You’re afraid you’ll make your dying loved one and their caregivers feel even more emotional. So you procrastinate or avoid a visit altogether. But in…

Nanci’s Story: Hospice Nurses Provide More than Medical Care

Nanci Phillips has been called an “angel” more than once during her time as a nurse with Heart to Heart Hospice in Texas’s Permian Basin region. She humbly sidesteps the compliment, saying she’s simply doing her job. But the job of a hospice nurse requires much more than medical knowledge…
A woman feeding her elderly mother

When a Hospice Worker Becomes a Family Caregiver

What happens when a hospice professional becomes a family caregiver? Hospice employees — whether a nurse, aide, or spiritual care coordinator — are accustomed to walking through the dying process with terminally ill patients and their families. But when it’s your own loved one, the importance of compassionate hospice care…

How to Help Children Cope with Death

Grief can be confusing, especially to a child. As a parent or close adult walking alongside a child grieving the death of a loved one, the goal isn’t to avoid sadness but to help them process it in a healthy way. For young children, the permanency of death is difficult…

Hospice Caregiving: What I Wish I’d Said to My Dying Loved One

I wish I would’ve asked… “What’s your favorite memory with me?” “What do you want us to remember about you?” “What do you want me to tell your son or daughter?” “That hurt then, but I forgive you.” After a prolonged illness and months of hospice care followed by the…

Combatting Caregiver Burnout During & After a Pandemic

The essential work of caring for hospice patients didn’t stop during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, two years later, “pandemic fatigue” still lingers for hospice workers, patients, and family caregivers. Even at the height of the pandemic in 2020, employees at Heart to Heart Hospice continued to provide…

Grieving the Loss of Someone from a Complicated Relationship

Grief has many layers when a relationship is healthy, but even more so when you have a complicated relationship with the person who died, such as an absent or abusive parent, a sibling who caused constant conflict in the family, or an unloving spouse. When someone was the source of…

Many Families Wait Too Long: Benefits of Starting Hospice Care Sooner

Requesting hospice services can be difficult for families, the terminally ill, and their health care providers. Medical requirements, countless unknowns, and the emotional implications often cause patients and caregivers to wait too long to utilize the full benefits of hospice care. According to a 2021 report by the National Hospice…

Can a Dying Person Still Hear?

How to Meaningfully Say Goodbye If your loved one in hospice care becomes nonverbal and unresponsive, it’s easy to believe the misconception that they can’t hear you. A recent study, however, reveals that hearing is the last sense that remains for dying patients. With this in mind, Heart to Heart…

Bereavement Support During The Holiday Seasons

Five Ways to Get through the Holidays after Loss: Bereavement Support after Hospice Care “Grief is in two parts. The first is loss. The second is the remaking of life.” -Anne Roiphe, Author After the death of a loved one, especially one you’ve cared for during their hospice journey, the…

How To Spend The Holiday With A Loved One On Hospice

Caregiving During the Holidays: Reduce Stress for a Memorable Last Christmas While the Christmas season ushers in joyful traditions, the needs of your loved one with end-stage illness don’t take a holiday. Grief is normal as you navigate holidays that look different than years past. As a caregiver for someone…

Understanding the Different Levels of Hospice Care

Many terminally ill patients wish to spend their final months or weeks at home surrounded by loved ones instead of in the hospital. Hospice care helps make that possible with resources and a support team available at many different stages. Understanding these levels of hospice care helps families know support…

Chaplain Support in End of Life Hospice Care

Chaplain’s Role in End-of-Life Care: Offering Emotional and Spiritual Support Chaplains or spiritual care coordinators are an essential part of your hospice team. During this tender time, patients and families are reflective of their lives and seeking comfort and hope. “A human is fundamentally a spiritual being dressed in a…

Hospice Caregiving as Someone Approaches Death

You’re never truly ready to let a loved one go, even if they’ve suffered a long-term illness that has caused a slow decline in health. And as a caregiver for someone approaching death, the release can be even more painful. You’ve created routines to make them comfortable. You’ve shared quiet…

Understanding Hospice Care for Your Terminally Ill Loved One

There is no manual when it comes to saying good-bye to a loved one. Heart to Heart Hospice wants to partner with caregivers to help answer your frequent questions, while providing comfort, support and dignity for end-of-life care. Our new Caregiver’s Corner blog series will compassionately address your concerns and…

Who Qualifies for Hospice Care?

Caring for a patient with a terminal illness is difficult enough for families, and involving hospice care means creating a support system for medical, emotional, spiritual, psychosocial and practical needs. One of the most frequent questions we receive is “How do I know if my loved one qualifies for hospice…

Criteria for Hospice Care

Heart to Heart Hospice Criteria for Hospice Care In 2018, over 1.5 million individuals with Medicare coverage received hospice care. This large number does not reflect hospice care recipients with alternative health care coverage. If you or a loved one are living with a life-threatening condition, you may be wondering…

Heart to Heart Hospice Myths and Facts

There are many misconceptions about hospice. We want you to know the facts about hospice care and all the benefits it provides for patients and their families. Myth: Hospice is a place.  Fact: Hospice care is a service that can be provided anywhere the patient calls home. Our trained, compassionate…

How to Select a Hospice Provider

When deciding whether to continue cancer treatment, the American Cancer Society recommends, “at some point you may need to consider that further treatment is not likely to improve your health or change your outcome or survival. At the same time, it might have side effects that could affect your quality…

Home Health Care Versus Hospice Care

Do you know the difference between Home Health Care and Hospice Care? Goal of Home Health Care: Curative/Rehabilitation for the patient Eligibility Requirements:  Physician certifies that the patient is in need of intermittent skilled nursing or therapy: The patient’s condition is expected to improve in a reasonable period of time. …