Hospice

Keeping Loved Ones Home During the Holidays

December 16, 2020 Kellie Holloran Blog, Caregivers, Hospice

“There’s no place like home for the holidays”. Surrounded by family and friends, either safely in person or via FaceTime or Zoom, with COVID still spreading rampant. Sharing memories, celebrating the Holiday Season, sharing meals, and spending time with loved ones is what its all about.

While “Last Christmas” was completely different, the same premise is still here- keeping loved ones at home. Most people put off a hospice referral until after the holidays when they should do the opposite. Hospice care can keep loved ones at home and in the thick of all the family activities while their pain and symptoms are expertly managed and improving quality of life. Early referral and admission to hospice care allows patients to benefit more from hospice care, spend more time with loved ones at home, and allows the family to benefit more from hospice care.

Care that keeps loved ones at home

Hospice care is provided wherever the patient calls home. Hospice care allows patients to have a “Wonderful Christmastime” by having all types of pain managed in the home setting- physical, financial, psychological, social, and spiritual. Hospice does not hasten death, and many studies have shown it can prolong a patient’s life when referred early enough due to increase in quality of life. Having access to a nurse 24 hours per day, every day, can give you a “Silent Night” at home without trips to the Emergency Room. This means if the patient is experiencing symptoms or a fall in the middle of the night, one call to (270) 826-2326 will have a nurse to the house controlling the symptoms and keeping the patient comfortably at home.

Care that alleviates stress

The holiday season is stressful enough. Hospice care can help reduce some of the stressors by keeping your loved one clean and comfortable to improve quality of life. You might think “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” but it’s really your Hospice Care Aide coming to assist with basic hygiene tasks such as bathing to keep your loved one feeling clean! Volunteers can provide companionship and respite care for caregivers, which helps reduce stress while “Christmas Wrapping”, cooking, and placing presents “Underneath the Tree”.

Care that comforts

Once admitted to hospice care, an interdisciplinary team surrounds the patient to treat all symptoms. The interdisciplinary team at St. Anthony’s consists of nurses, chaplains, social workers, volunteers, aides, a nurse practitioner, the patient’s primary care physician, and our medical directors. The team not only supports the patient but supports the patient’s family. They can provide emotional support and education to family members to understand the patient’s disease process and cope with the physical and mental changes that occur to the patient throughout the process. Our care team’s goal is to have all symptoms controlled thus increasing quality of life and ensuring “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

Care that continues

If your loved one has symptoms that can’t be managed at home, St. Anthony’s Hospice has an inpatient unit- the Lucy Smith King Care Center. We offer different levels of care at the Lucy Smith King Care Center to meet the needs of our patients. These levels of care include general inpatient, respite, and residential. General inpatient care is for hospice patients who are experiencing uncontrolled symptoms such as uncontrolled pain, nausea and vomiting, complex wound care, uncontrolled seizures, etc. Respite care is offered for caregivers who need a break to attend an event, staycation, or vacation for up to 5 days. Residential care is when a patient chooses to live at Lucy Smith King Care Center for a room and board rate of $275/day. Even though “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” we want to ensure your loved one is receiving the warmest and highest level of care, just as we would give our own family.

With the holidays among us, we always want to make certain that our patients receive the expert care that St. Anthony’s Hospice is known for. Our clinicians are experts in pain and symptom management that will keep patients comfortable and “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” with their loved ones. Please give us a call at (270) 826-2326 to refer a loved one or with any questions. We would be happy to help because “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays.”

By the way, how many song titles did you pick up on?

Forgiving at the End of Life

December 11, 2020 Kellie Holloran Bereavement, Blog, Hospice

Many sets of siblings have heard “apologize to your brother/sister!” Or some may have used the ever-so-famous get along shirt, as pictured below.

We all remember this vividly. The mumbled and not so sincere “I’m sorry”, usually accompanied by a forced hug, prior to mom or dad releasing you and your sibling to go play. These moments we all remember so well are used by parents as teachable moments to teach kids about saying sorry, meaning it, and forgiveness. Teaching kids these lessons often goes well since they usually have something small to apologize for such as not sharing a toy.

When adults need to forgive another, that’s where it can get complicated than simply not sharing a toy. Sometimes there’s years of resentment and pain that is difficult to get over. Forgiveness is a critical part in healing; forgiveness at the end of life is more critical since it can benefit both parties.

The Importance of Forgiveness at the End of Life

Hospice clinicians witness all kinds of things with patients- love, tender moments, pain of unresolved conflict, and forgiveness from both patients and families. They watch as an estranged son comes back to the father that hurt him in the past, grab his hand, and have one final heart-to-heart with forgiveness on both ends. Not only do the clinicians witness these beautiful moments, but they also witness the patient reaching out for one final chance at forgiveness, only to have their loved one reject the call.

There can be many reasons the loved one doesn’t want to forgive the patient such as past abuse, addiction, neglect, or many others. Even in difficult situations such as these, there is value in forgiving at the end of life.

How Does Forgiveness Help?

Forgiveness is beneficial for both mental and physical health. Mentally, forgiveness doesn’t mean “forgiving and forgetting”, but it does mean letting go of the resentment and anger you have been harboring against that person.

While forgiveness isn’t the easiest thing, St. Anthony’s offers Chaplains to help steer through the complex emotions you may feel. You may have to forgive your loved one multiple times to feel the relief. Once you completely forgive, you may experience many physical changes that include:

Lower blood pressure
Lower anxiety and stress levels
Reduced symptoms of depression
Better immune system (which we all need especially with COVID and the flu)
Improved mental health
Allows for healthier personal relationships

When Forgiveness Fails

While forgiveness benefits all parties, it also can’t be rushed. When approaching end of life, time becomes a factor. Those who were wronged need to forgive on their own terms. You can start on the forgiveness route by apologizing sincerely and taking responsibility for your own actions by offering an explanation of why the event happened and how you wish to make amends.

It’s important to give the wronged person the chance to express how the situation affected them. This can be difficult to hear, and even say, it’s a necessary part of the process.

Even with a sincere apology, the hurt person may not forgive. While this may hurt, forgiveness may not be immediate. Follow the lead of the hurt party and give them the space needed to process the apology and heal.

Seek out a therapist, chaplain, or social worker for more guidance to move forward and forgive. If you have any questions about hospice care, please call us at (270) 826-2326.

Photo source: https://www.google.com/search?q=get+along+shirt&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS850US850&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjG1PLTqMTtAhVGaM0KHaPXDf8Q_AUoAXoECBMQAw&biw=639&bih=564&dpr=1.5#imgrc=4aDicGV_7eWKSM

Grief and the Holidays

December 8, 2020 Kellie Holloran Bereavement, Blog, Hospice

The holidays are a trying time, now in a pandemic, and even more so when you lose a loved one. The first year a loved one is gone is completely different- the first Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday, etc. without your loved one around or calling you.

Last year we shared 14 ways to cope with grief during the holidays and we wanted to hit on those again.

Realize this year will be different. Don’t compare this holiday with the nostalgia of past holidays. Acknowledge that the holidays may not be the same as those in the past.
Expect emotions to intensify. Accept the likelihood that the holidays may be painful.
Plan ahead. Pace yourself. Set realistic limits and lowed expectations. It is okay to say “no” to things like sending cards, decorating, and buying gifts.
Be flexible and patient to yourself and others.
Tell others what you need. Others may not know how to help you and need to be told what to do. Communicate your needs!
Be gentle with yourself. Give yourself permission to feel whatever you feel.
Remember your physical needs. Don’t abandon healthy habits like exercising, eating right, and getting plenty of sleep.
Make new holiday rituals. When you do things differently, it tells others that your life is different. Light a candle, walk, pray, or do whatever feels right for YOU!
Honor traditions. Let family know what traditions are meaningful for you and which are painful. It is okay to let some traditions go.
Take 5 minute “mini mental breaks.” Sit down, practice deep breathing and simply close your eyes. Alternatively, go for a walk, listen to music, or meditate.
Stay involved. Meet together as a family and share what each needs to make these holidays special and be willing to change the normal routine. In 2020, please be sure to follow COVID guidelines to keep yourself and family members safe.
Lean on your faith (or family) for strength. Touch base with your spirituality (or family members if you are not spiritual). Both can bring comfort, strength, peace, and wisdom. Explore what gives your own life meaning.
Remember to remember. Celebrate the memory of your loved one in a way that helps you cope.
Find moments of joy. Remember that your loved one would want nothing but your happiness over the holidays. Don’t feel guilty to laugh, joke, or find joy in the simple things.

In addition to 14 ways to cope with grief during the holidays, we wanted to re-share Thomas Emerson’s video on bereavement support and grief. For those who do not know, Thomas is one of our Chaplains and our Bereavement Coordinator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4GI0X-IBhg

Holidays can be hard, here at St. Anthony’s we want to make them a little easier for you! We offer bereavement support for 15 months after your loved one passes away! We also take referrals anytime- day or night- and visit patients anytime a need arises outside of their scheduled visit. Give us a call at (270) 826-2326 to see how we can help you or a loved one.

Are Earlier Hospice Referrals Beneficial?

December 4, 2020 Kellie Holloran Blog, Hospice

Many people know the benefits of hospice care, expert symptom management, emotional support, spiritual support, help for both the patient and caregiver, and help with advanced directives. Unfortunately, most patients are referred to hospice late in the disease process. Even more unfortunate, some are referred so late in the disease process, they cannot fully realize how much of an impact hospice can make on both physical and emotional comfort, as well as the increase in quality of life.

The earlier in the disease process a patient is referred to hospice care, the more benefits he/she receives! In a study done a few years ago based on St. Anthony’s Hospice interdisciplinary team visits, we determined the following:

IN THE PROGRAM 6 MONTHS	IN THE PROGRAM 2 WEEKS
50 nurse visits to home	4 nurse visits to home
36 supportive calls by nursing staff	3 supportive calls by nursing staff
75 nurse aide visits	5 nurse aide visits
13 social work visits	1 social work visits
10 spiritual care visits	1 spiritual care visits
6 care center days for symptom management	2 care center days for symptom management
15 months of bereavement support to family	15 months of bereavement support to family
23 volunteer visits (if requested)

Every patient is different, therefore every patient need is different. Some patients require more visits and some require less, this table is the average visits.

Our goal is to improve every patient’s quality of life! The sooner a patient is referred to hospice, the more benefits he/she receives.

If you or a loved one is in need of the extra help and support hospice care can provide, please give us a call at (270) 826-2326.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Month Videos

December 1, 2020 Kellie Holloran Blog, Hospice, Palliative, Stories

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month! This year, our Business Development Coordinator, Riley Hamilton, came up with the idea of putting out videos from different disciplines explaining in more detail about hospice and palliative care. We had some community members, nurses, social workers, chaplains, office crew, and more participate! Rather than searching through our social media to find your favorite video, we’ve listed all of them in order below.

The Vanvactor Family- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDh4jH71JD8

Jessica Wright, LPN- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03VcNcDBGck

Meyer Goldberg- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zJ3kHBN9j0

Kellie Holloran- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F4MqaW7tzM

Kendra Marsh- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ug1vikKRqg

John Brumfiel- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFucrk39dX0

Thomas Emerson- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4GI0X-IBhg

Nancy Litke, RN- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9AcST4-06s

Dana Hurt, RN- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOspWJRP8A8

Sherry Hagan, RN- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul61DYE8ztg

Diane Henshaw, RN- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0bRVxUQ9Os

As always, if you or a loved one is in need of hospice or palliative care, give us a call anytime at (270) 826-2326 to see how we can help!

Planning a “Good Death”

October 27, 2020 Kellie Holloran Blog, Hospice

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal” -Christ Atul B Purty

Death is a subject often skimmed over; especially when it comes to the death of a loved one or a person’s own death. Even though nobody wants to talk about death, everyone wishes for the same thing, a “good death”. We’re sure you’ve heard someone at some point say “I just want to die in my sleep when I’m old. You know, something peaceful.” We all hope to pass away peacefully, pain-free, and according to our 5 Wishes or other advanced directives. However, the only way to accomplish this is to have your wishes in place before the time comes.

Planning a Good Death

There are a few elements of a good death that a person cannot control- time, for instance. One very important factor that a person can control in regards to death is his/her healthcare wishes.

Not making healthcare wishes known ahead of time forces loved ones into a predicament of guessing what you want. Loved ones have to take into consideration feeding tubes, ventilators, CPR and other life-lengthening options. No matter the treatment that is pursued, or not pursued, by the family, loved ones can be riddled with guilt over wondering if they chose what their loved one would have wanted.

But how can you help your loved ones? As soon as you receive a diagnosis of a serious illness, lay out your wishes on advanced directives! You can head to an attorney to create documents such as a Power of Attorney, Living Will, or DNR (do not resuscitate) form. Or you can fill out a booklet entitled “5 Wishes.” This booklet is a recognized advanced directive document in the state of Kentucky. It’s easy to understand, to the point, and easy for the person to fill out. St. Anthony’s Hospice does have these documents and give us a call or stop by our office to obtain one- (270) 826-2326.

Hospice Can Help Make a “Good Death”

Hospice care is a benefit covered 100% under Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurances. It is designed to help those with a serious illness live the best quality of life by controlling symptoms, assisting with psychological, social, and medical needs, and keeping the patient where he/she wishes to be- home. Patients are eligible for hospice if they have a diagnosis of a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 6 months or less, should the disease run its normal course.

St. Anthony’s Hospice is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist patients and their families. Patients receive St. Anthony’s Hospice care wherever they call home- home, apartment, skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, or the Lucy Smith King Care Center. Our clinicians are experts at providing nursing care, personal care, emotional/psychosocial care, and spiritual care to treat the whole patient. We also offer bereavement services to help the family after the patient passes away.

Once admitted to hospice care, a team of nurses, aides, chaplains, social workers, and the patient’s doctor or our medical directors and our nurse practitioner surrounds the patient to develop a care plan to keep the patient where they want to be and manage any symptoms that inhibit a high quality of life. And yes, you read that right, a hospice patient does not have to give up his/her doctor; if the patient wishes to keep their physician and the physician wants to follow the patient! All medications related to the patient’s hospice diagnosis, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies are covered under hospice care and provided at no cost to the patient and family.

Advanced Directives and Funerals

Legal jargon can be confusing, especially in a high-stress time, like trying to determine a loved one’s wishes while he/she is incapacitated. St. Anthony’s has social workers who can assist with getting advanced directives in order. The social workers are not attorneys but they can help family members connect with an attorney to get documents in place and serve as a witness/notary on documents such as 5 Wishes or a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form. Social workers can also help get family members in contact with funeral directors to answer any questions they might have about a loved one’s funeral.

Putting advanced directives and funeral plans in place early can help save stress on family members and can help reduce costs to the grieving family.

If you or someone you love is in need of extra help to achieve a “good death”, give St. Anthony’s a call at (270) 826-2326 or fill out our referral form- https://stanthonyshospice.org/referral/.

End of Life and the Emergency Room

October 8, 2020 Kellie Holloran Blog, Hospice, Palliative

When most people think of emergency rooms, they might think of a scene out of Grey’s Anatomy. The ambulance racing to the door with paramedics jumping out as soon as the ambulance stops to get the patient on the gurney out of the back. Doctors and nurses rushing to meet the ambulance with all the staff running into the hospital to save the patient that is standing on death’s doorstep.

While scenes like this can sometimes be true, ER staff has seen an increase in elderly patients suffering from serious illness and unmanaged symptoms. Hospice and palliative care are the perfect solutions to keeping patients’ symptoms managed and keeping them at home, where most wish to be.

End of Life and the Emergency Room

Emergency Room physicians and nurses are incredible. They never know what is going to walk or roll through the ER entrance from day to day. They face serious and often unplanned injuries and illness often and must be on their toes to diagnose the issue and work to fix it.

With that being said, the emergency room is not the best place for patients who are nearing the end of life. Hear us out! Determining a patient’s longevity is difficult, even for primary care physicians who know a patient’s full medical history. It’s natural for ER physicians to steer clear of discussing a patient’s prognosis when he/she only sees the patient for a small bit of the patient’s condition. Because of this, emergency physicians often stay away from discussing end of life care with patients.

On the other hand, some patients do not have strong relationships with their primary care physician so they put a lot of trust in their ER doctor to provide the best possible education and treatment options.

Hospice & Palliative Care Support for ER Physicians

St. Anthony’s Hospice works with ER staff to provide education and end of life options for patients with serious illness. Rather than patients being admitted into the hospital, it is possible to discharge a patient from the ER to home with hospice or palliative services.

With hospice referrals from the ER, St. Anthony’s works to get one of our Admission RNs out ASAP to assess the patient for hospice eligibility and if eligible, get the admission documents signed.

If the patient is eligible for hospice, we work to get durable medical equipment in the home quickly. The patient’s nurse (or on-call nurse if patient arrives home after hours) will make a visit or call, if the patient does not have any immediate needs, once the patient is back home.

Hospice care provides many benefits to the patient, all of which are covered 100% under Medicare and Medicaid. Some private insurances also cover hospice services. Visit our hospice information page to learn more about these benefits- https://stanthonyshospice.org/hospice-care/.

If the patient is not eligible for hospice care, we discuss palliative care with the patient. Palliative care is for patients who are still seeking aggressive or curative treatments, or those who have a chronic illness but do not meet criteria for hospice care just yet. Visit our palliative care information page to learn more about palliative care- https://stanthonyshospice.org/palliative/.

The overall goals of hospice and palliative care are quality of life and keeping the patient at home and out of the hospital/ER. To learn more about St. Anthony’s Hospice and Palliative Care or to refer yourself or a loved one, give us a call at (270) 826-2326 or visit our referral page at https://stanthonyshospice.org/referral/.

1st photo source: https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/blurred-emergency-in-hospital-picture-id543076252?s=612×612

2nd photo source- google images

Psychosocial and Physical Pain

October 1, 2020 Kellie Holloran Blog, Caregivers, Hospice

You’ve read many times “St. Anthony’s Hospice treats the five types of pain- physical, psychological, spiritual, social, and financial,” But what does this mean? Today we are going to dive into psychosocial, or social, pain.

Everyone likes to socialize, whether in person, via phone call or texting, social media, etc. And there are many things in our daily lives that affect social pain- marital status, social status, home and work atmosphere, social support, etc. For instance, if someone is going through a divorce or other traumatic social experience, he/she might have a lower pain tolerance. Whereas someone who has a loved one by their side might have a higher pain tolerance, think a child who is getting a shot and has mom or dad hold him/her.

Recognizing Social Factors that Affect Physical Pain

Becoming Aware of the Social Factors.

Pain is one of the ways our body communicates with our brain. For example, if we touch something hot, we pull away from it before we develop a serious injury. If we are paying attention while touching the hot object and expecting the pain, the pain may be more severe.

One way to decrease the pain intensity is to distract the patient. Start a conversation, turn on a television show, or have company while doing something unpleasant, such as giving an injection. While the pain won’t fully go away, the distraction may help decrease the intensity of the pain.

Interpretating the Pain.

How a patient perceives the pain can impact how the pain is felt. If the paint expects the worst physical pain, they may be pleasantly surprised when the actual pain is less than expected. On the other hand, if the patient was previously told by a physician that their disease would be cured in a certain timeframe and they are still receiving painful treatments, the physical and emotional pain could be more intense

To help lower the intensity of pain, it can be beneficial for the caregiver or hospice/palliative care team to discuss expectations with the patient. This helps the patient to express his/her wishes and avoid both overestimating and looking for all devastations in their care.

Emotions and Physical Pain.

Fear, depression, anxiety, worry, and other psychological factors can lower a patient’s threshold for pain. Treating the emotional triggers as well as the emotions can reduce social pain, thus reducing physical pain.

Talking with a trained counselor or even a social worker can be a huge relief. This gives the patient the opportunity to feel heard and allows the patient to practice healthy coping skills. In addition, meditation, any type of physical activity, enjoying time outdoors, and enjoying time with company can help increase positive emotions which increases the patient’s threshold for physical pain.

Managing the Pain.

How the patient approaches treatment options, as well as any additional support such as hospice or palliative care, can be beneficial to increasing the threshold for physical pain. The treatment options should be appropriate to the levels of pain; for example, narcotics shouldn’t be prescribed for mild pain. This can force the patient to develop other coping mechanisms, some often unhealthy.

Addressing the Social Pain

Improving a patient’s social surroundings can greatly improve a patient’s social and physical pain. Having someone there to ease the patient’s mind or take their mind off some of the more painful treatments can go a long way.

As the caregiver, look for ways to increase the patient’s social support. Encourage regular contact with friends and loved ones. If he/she lives alone, encourage visits to the local senior center (check for current COVID restrictions) or regular coffee dates and/or lunches with friends. If the patient is receiving hospice care, volunteers can go to their home and provide companionship and do activities with the patient (current COVID restrictions unfortunately are not allowing hospice volunteers to go into patient homes amidst the pandemic).

Social workers also work to address social factors, it’s in the name! They can help patients with stress management techniques, as well as address any issues the patients may be having and work toward solutions.

To learn more about how St. Anthony’s Hospice addresses symptoms of pain or to refer a loved one or yourself, give us a call at (270) 826-2326 or visit our “Make a Referral” page here- https://stanthonyshospice.org/referral/.

COPD and Anxiety

September 28, 2020 Kellie Holloran Blog, Hospice, Palliative

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a “chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow to the lungs” (Mayo Clinic). COPD damage is irreversible but the condition is treatable. With proper symptom management, people living with COPD can attain a good quality of life and reduce the risk of developing other associated conditions. Some of the common symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, a chronic cough that produces clear, white, yellow, or greenish mucus, frequent respiratory infections, lack of energy, unintentional weight loss, or swelling in legs, feet, and ankles (Mayo Clinic).

Its no surprise that patients with COPD who experience shortness of breath often experience anxiety. This creates an endless cycle of breathing difficulty, inability to breathe, panic, inability to breathe due to panic and anxiety. Understanding and managing anxiety is extra important for those living with COPD to help break this cycle.

Palliative & Hospice Care for COPD

COPD does have many management options- both pharmaceutical and not, it cannot be cured. It can be difficult for loved ones or caregivers to decide when to get additional care.

St. Anthony’s Palliative care is a great place to start when your loved one’s COPD is declining. We have a Nurse Practitioner, RN, and Social Worker who are an extra set of eyes and ears in the home to help manage symptoms and communicate with patient’s physician and/or specialist. Our Palliative Care team will visit in the patient’s home, cutting down on doctor and hospital visits.

When the patient’s condition declines and their physician expects they have 6 months left to live, the patient is eligible for the added benefits of hospice care. However, this does not mean the patient will only live for 6 months if on hospice care; only that the patient’s life expectancy is 6 months or less should the disease run its normal course.

Once admitted to hospice care, the patient is instantly surrounded by a team of experts who work together to care for the patient’s pain and symptoms and spiritual needs. Additionally, the patient and family receive much-needed emotional support.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about St. Anthony’s Hospice or Palliative Care or make a referral, please contact us at (270) 826-2326.

Sources- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/symptoms-causes/syc-20353679?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=abstract&utm_content=Chronic-Obstructive-Pulmonary-Disease&utm_campaign=Knowledge-panel

Et in Arcadia, Ego

September 17, 2020 Kellie Holloran Blog, Hospice

“Et in Arcadia ego” is a painting by artist Nicolas Poussin. This painting was created in 1637-1638 and was in the classical French Baroque style. It is currently housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

In the painting you will see four Arcadian shepherds looking at something on a tomb. The shepherds are looking at an inscription on the tomb which reads “et in Arcadia ego”. But what does this inscription mean? Roughly translated from Latin to English, the inscription means “I too lived in Arcadia” or “I too exist in paradise”.

Who is “I”? In this painting, “I” is death. Death exists in paradise. Death exists everywhere, happens to everyone eventually, and cannot be escaped. Death is being referred to in the first person and present tense because everyone can watch death unfold and it has gone on since the beginning of time, through today, and into the future.

With hospice care, we know death is an inevitable part of life and we strive to make it comfortable for the patient and provide resources for loved ones to care for their loved ones and grieve properly after the patient passes away. Hospice does not hasten death rather it enhances quality of life, even to the final moments. The clinicians of St. Anthony’s are experts in pain and symptom management to ensure our patients are physically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially comfortable.

For the family, St. Anthony’s offers bereavement services for 15 months after their loved ones passes away. And we even offer grief support to the community. These include camps, grief support groups, one-on-one grief counseling, and more. We want to be sure the family is emotionally supported while dealing with this difficult time.

If you or someone you know is in need of the extra care and support that hospice care provides, please give us a call at (270) 826-2326.

Sources for the painting: Image from google images.
Sources for information about painting: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/et%20in%20Arcadia%20ego

Keeping Loved Ones Home During the Holidays

Forgiving at the End of Life

Grief and the Holidays

Are Earlier Hospice Referrals Beneficial?

National Hospice and Palliative Care Month Videos

Planning a “Good Death”

End of Life and the Emergency Room

Psychosocial and Physical Pain

COPD and Anxiety

Et in Arcadia, Ego

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Et in Arcadia, Ego