Patient Resources

What is hospice?
A philosophy of care with a special focus on quality of days, comfort, and management of symptoms in a patient and family centered model.

Hospice FAQ
Is it time to start thinking about hospice care for you or someone you care about? Like many people, you probably have questions about the hospice care system. This article covers the most commonly asked questions about hospice.

How and When to Start Hospice Care
Knowing when to begin hospice care may be hard to discuss. Knowing when and how to begin the care a loved one may need is important for end of life decision making. It is best to discuss these things before the time comes in order to reduce stress for everyone involved.

Paying for Hospice
For people over the age of 65, hospice services are covered 100%. Trail Winds Hospice provides care to Medicaid recipients as well as private insurance. We are happy to speak to your insurance company and find out more about your hospice benefit during an informational visit.

When your Child is in Pain
It can be difficult for a parent to see their child in pain, but knowing how to handle the situation can be essential. Preparing your child for procedures and tests can help them with anxiety and fear. Your presence can make the  difference for them.

Talking with Your Child About Their Illness
Finding positive ways to help your child cope with their illness can impact their experience and help them discover important things about themselves. Communication is key when handling a child who has an illness. Letting them know they can always talk to you about it is very important.

When a Child Dies
Death is never easy, but especially for a parent losing a child. Parents can often feel isolated after their child dies because other family members do not know how to cope with the situation yet. However, being there for the parents can be crucial in their grieving process. We never want the parents to feel alone in this journey.

Helping Children Cope with Loss
Being straightforward with a child about death is often important as children take things literal. It is best to keep the answers simple and honest. Allow time for children to comprehend and express feelings about what has happened.

Planning
Planning is very important after learning of a serious illness. Key steps should be taken in order to know you are getting what you want.

1. Knowing what kind of advance care options are available for you.
2. Deciding what kind of care options are best for you should something happen.
3. Sharing these options with your loved ones.
4. Put your wishes into writing by filling out your advanced directives.

End of Life Decisions
Reading this booklet will make you more comfortable and aware of the decisions that everyone will have to make at some point in their lives. The booklet is divided into two sections: Advanced Care Planning and Life-Sustaining Treatments.

What to do if a Family Member Disagrees?
Talking with family members about your wishes is important. Make sure to appoint a person who understands exactly what you want as your healthcare agent. They have the right to make the decisions, even if others do not agree. However, it is still vital to communicate your wishes to everyone in order to prevent those who disagree from persuading the agent.

You have completed your advance directive, now what?
It is important to now talk with family members about your wishes to ensure everyone is on the same page. Then you should talk with your doctors and express your wishes to them and let me know who you have chosen as your healthcare decision maker. Make sure to have copies of your important healthcare decision documents.

Living Will
A living will is a written statement about your desires and specific actions that may be taken if there comes a time when you may not be able to speak them for yourself.

Grief and Loss
The way people deal with grief can vary from person to person and finding a way to cope with the loss can be very important. Time heals most, if not all, wounds and it is very essential in the grieving process to help in moving forward after a loss.  There is no specific way to grieve, but learning as an individual on how to move forward will allow you to adjust to life after a loss.

Types of Grief and Loss
Grief comes in many different forms and it is important to know how you grieve as an individual. Whether you were anticipating the loss or it was sudden, losing someone is never easy.

What Does Grief Feel Like?
Describing what it feels like to be grieving may be different for everyone. It can feel like you are in shock, numb, or empty. Many physical symptoms are possible, such as: shaking, loss of appetite, nausea, shortness of breath, and difficulty sleeping. It is normal to experience these symptoms and may just all be a part of the grieving process.

Living with Serious Illness
Learning you are living with a serious illness may affect your life in several ways. You may experience some life changes such as in your emotional, physical, spiritual, and practical considerations. It may feel like there is not a lot you can control in your life, but what you can do is learn about your care options and take tangible steps to ensure that your wishes are granted.

When Someone You Care About is Seriously Ill
Talking about the future with someone who is ill can be difficult. It is important to provide them with support and remember they are still the same person they have always been. Encourage them to live everyday fully and without regret. Never save something for ‘someday.’

We provide bereavement services to family and friends for 13 months after a patient dies and offer grief support groups. We provide and can refer to outside sources as well.