Expert Column
Audrey Wuerl 
Audrey Wuerl, RN, BSN, PHN, is Education Coordinator for Hospice of San Joaquin in...read more
Articles In This Column
- Choosing Between Hospice Care & Palliative Care: An In-depth Look at Your Options
- Hospice Care & Palliative Care: Choosing the Right Level of Care
- Alzheimer's Disease: Understanding Wandering Behavior
- The Importance of Partnering with Physicians in End of Life Care
- Artificial Hydration & Nutrition in Advanced Alzheimer's
- Hospice & Palliative Care: Where's the Common Ground?
- Determining Hospice Eligibility for Dementia
- Hospice Care: Living with Terminal Illness
- Living with Dementia: How Hospice Care Can Help
Hospice & Dementia Care
Hospice & Palliative Care: Where's the Common Ground?
Receiving “The News” A person faced with a new diagnosis that is life-limiting is generally overwhelmed. Everything has changed, and nothing will ever be the same. All of the grief stages can come into play: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and ultimately, acceptance. The person might wonder, Why me? Why now? Can I beat this? The situation can become overwhelming when coupled with confusing medical jargon about palliative care and hospice care. Let’s start by clarifying the care options that...Read entire article »
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Determining Hospice Eligibility for Dementia
How do you know if your loved one is eligible to receive hospice services? How does a physician make a prognosis of six months or less for a patient? Let’s take a look at the criteria that hospice and medical professionals utilize when determining whether a patient is appropriate for hospice services. A life-limiting dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease will progress over time. Patients can live with this dementia for several years; many are even able to remain at...Read entire article »
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Hospice Care: Living with Terminal Illness
Patients and their families are usually overwhelmed when faced with the diagnosis of terminal illness. Many patients are symptom-free until an illness or hospitalization reveals they have a life-limiting condition. Suddenly, everything changes. Feelings of fear, confusion, doubt, and even isolation are common. Major health decisions must be made. Most people are at a loss as to where to turn for guidance. A hospice care team can help you navigate this new terrain. It is never too early to...Read entire article »
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Living with Dementia: How Hospice Care Can Help
What is dementia? And perhaps just as importantly, what isn’t it? In the coming months, I’ll be writing a series of articles on dementia to address the concerns of caregivers and family members who have a loved one living with dementia. Many people think of hospice care as being for the dying, and therefore not appropriate for someone who has “only” been diagnosed with dementia. However, hospice care can help greatly in the day-to-day living of a person with...Read entire article »
