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…

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…

At Heart to Heart Hospice, our volunteers are a special part of the care team, making a difference in people’s lives by providing a variety of supportive services. There are opportunities to interact directly with patients and families or to serve our local hospice programs by assisting staff members in…

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…

Remember the isolation of the worldwide pandemic? Loneliness can be its own pandemic and can result from a lack of meaningful social, spiritual, and emotional connections. Isolation is described as something separate and not connected to other things, or the condition of being unhappy while completely alone.  Did you realize…

El proceso de navegar por el cuidado de la salud y la atención de hospicio al final de la vida puede ser confuso, especialmente para pacientes y familias que hablan español o tienen el inglés como su segundo idioma. Es por eso que Heart to Heart Hospice, con cobertura en…

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…

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…

“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.”…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Did you know hospice patients can travel? You can fulfill last wishes or attend a family wedding, graduation, or special celebration. You can make plans to revisit a favorite vacation spot or experience a bucket-list destination. Hospice doesn't take a vacation, and in fulfilling its mission to provide quality of…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

What Does Hospice Provide? It's a question that fewer Americans know the answer to than we might expect. That isn't to say it should be surprising; Americans often have a hard time discussing life-limiting illnesses and their treatment. If you are considering hospice care for a loved one or just…

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…

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…

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. …