HOSPICE AND THE HOLIDAYS

Eight Ways Hospice Improves Quality of Life During the Holidays

Hospice improves quality of life. But talking about hospice is never easy. It’s always difficult to consider a loved one’s end of life. This often becomes much more emotionally challenging when your loved one is declining close to or during the holidays. The holidays are often associated with joy and promise, family togetherness and capturing memories. But this is what makes hospice a real solution. This blog will help you understand eight ways hospice improves quality of life during the holidays.

Thinking differently about what hospice can bring your family can help ensure that the holidays are celebrated as joyfully and fully as possible when your loved one is seriously ill. Hospice improves quality of life. Hospice enables those coping with a life-limiting illness to more fully engage in life’s activities and joys. Many of those under our care felt they wanted to delay care until after the holidays. But what they came to realize is that a referral to Ascend Hospice & Palliative Care at the holidays actually helped their family have more quality time together during the holidays.

How Hospice Improves Quality of Life During the Holidays

Discomfort and other symptoms can prevent your seriously ill loved one from enjoying and participating in holiday traditions. Our expertise in pain control and symptom management brings the comfort that allows your loved one to more fully engage in holiday traditions.
Family caregiving is never easy but often even more stressful with the added obligations of preparing for the holidays. Ascend brings an extra layer of real support. Our team of caregivers joins in the duties of caring for your loved one. Ascend CNAs help take weight off your shoulders by helping with daily caregiving responsibilities like bathing, grooming, changing bedding, light housekeeping and light meal preparation.
Highly trained Ascend volunteers provide companionship and respite, thereby reducing stress and allowing family members to focus on holiday preparations. You can have peace of mind while running errands like holiday shopping without worrying about leaving your loved one alone.
We help you become more than a caregiver. Often when caring for a seriously ill loved one, your role changes. You are seen as their caregiver and less like the son, daughter, husband or wife you once were to them. The relationship shifts. The families we care for often tell us that with the support of Ascend they were able to return to their family role. This is so important during the holidays when you hope to capture this precious time together and once again become the family you were before the illness changed everything.
We help families cope with the emotional toll of life-limiting illness that increases during the holidays. Our counselors and caregivers provide emotional support and understanding. We help you cope with the fear of loss and empower you to focus on the present, while your loved one is here with you. Our goal is to ensure you capture every moment with your loved one instead of worrying about tomorrow.
There’s little worse than the fear of spending the holidays in the hospital or running to the ER. Our expert care and individual plans of care focus on the unique needs of each person to help keep your loved one at home by reducing the risk of hospitalizations during the holidays.
Our extra layer of support allows families to focus on their loved ones rather than on arranging medical equipment, doctor appointments, prescriptions and other needs. Ascend provides for many needs related to your loved one’s illness, including medical equipment and medications.
Some people question their beliefs when facing the reality that this may be their last holiday with a loved one. Many people don’t realize that hospice offers spiritual support. Ascend non-denominational chaplains are available to help guide you through anger, hopelessness, questions of faith and fear. The holidays often bring these emotions to the surface.

When Is It Time for Hospice?

Though recent research has shown that hospice actually extends life and improves quality of life, too many people gain the support hospice brings too late. Here are some indications that can help you determine when it may be time to consider hospice care.

Your loved one has made more than three trips to the ER
Your loved one is showing signs of increased anxiety, depression or confusion
Your loved one is needing more and more help with mobility
Your loved one is sleeping more often or spending more time in a favorite chair
Your loved one is experiencing frequent infections
You are noticing that they are eating less, are less interested in food and are losing weight
You are noticing that they seem to be more confused
Your loved one is growing tired of aggressive treatments and is talking about quality of life
You are spending more and more time taking them to doctor appointments
You are becoming overwhelmed with caregiving duties and feel like they need more support than you are able to provide

10 ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day

April 28, 2025

Losing a mother is never easy, and Mother’s Day can be an emotional time. Honoring her memory in meaningful ways can bring comfort and keep her spirit alive. Here are ten thoughtful ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day: 1. Visit Her Resting Place Spend time at her gravesite or memorial, bringing fresh flowers, her favorite items, or just sitting and reflecting on her love and legacy. 2. Cook Her Favorite Meal Prepare a dish she loved or a recipe she passed down. Sharing a meal in her honor can be a comforting way to feel close to her. 3. Write Her a Letter Express how much you miss her, update her on your life, or share a special memory. Writing can be a powerful way to process emotions and keep her close. 4. Light a Candle in Her Memory Lighting a candle in her honor can be a quiet, reflective way to feel her presence and express your love. 5. Look Through Old Photos & Videos Take time to revisit cherished moments by flipping through photo albums or watching home videos . It’s a beautiful way to celebrate her life and legacy. 6. Do Something She Loved Whether it’s gardening, painting, reading, or taking a walk in nature, engaging in her favorite activities can be a meaningful tribute. 7. Make a Donation in Her Name Give to a charity or cause she cared about . It’s a wonderful way to extend her kindness and make a difference in her honor. 8. Create a Memory Book or Scrapbook Compile photos, letters, and stories into a scrapbook or digital memory book that keeps her spirit alive for future generations. 9. Plant a Tree or Flowers in Her Honor Planting something in her memory can be a lasting tribute, symbolizing growth, love, and the continuation of her legacy. 10. Spend Time with Family & Share Stories Gather with loved ones to reminisce, share stories, and celebrate the love she gave. Keeping her memory alive through storytelling can be healing and uplifting. No matter how you choose to honor your mom, the most important thing is to celebrate the love and impact she had on your life. We hope these 10 ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day helps readers celebrate this Mother’s Day. Also read here about surviving the first Mother’s Day without Mom .

12 Important Things To Understand About Hospice

February 27, 2025

Our expert care enriches life by controlling symptoms and managing pain, while also caring for the mind and spirit. Hospice often becomes a choice when you or a loved one is seeking relief from frequent emergency room visits or are physically or emotionally tired of challenging treatments that no longer have a positive impact on life expectancy or quality of life. Serious illness affects more than just a loved one. So, our support extends to family caregivers . We become an extra layer of support by sharing our experience and resources to ensure that you and your loved ones feel prepared by knowing what to expect as illness progresses. We also help you feel less overwhelmed by sharing in some of the responsibilities of the day-to-day care of your loved one. We also understand the worry that comes with serious illness. When a loved one is living with a serious illness, a price can’t be put on peace of mind. Here 12 things that are important to understand about hospice. 1 - Hospice is a philosophy of care that treats a person rather than the disease. Hospice is a complete and cohesive program of medical care and emotional/spiritual support to improve the quality of life for patients facing a life-limiting illness. 2 - When treatment is no longer effective or desired, hospice care can be provided for pain relief and symptom control , along with emotional and spiritual support for patients and loved ones. 3 - Hospice care takes a holistic approach focusing on both physical and emotional health. 4 - In most cases, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and helps make decisions for their loved one. 5 - The caregiver works with our team to develop a plan of care to provide treatment, support, and personal care. 6 - Your physician remains in charge of the overall medical care, we become a part of his team. 7 - Hospice isn’t giving up. It’s finding comfort and dignity after you’ve been told nothing more can be done. 8 - You are free to leave a hospice program at any time for any reason without penalty. You can re-enroll in a hospice program any time that you meet the medical eligibility criteria. 9 - Medications and medical interventions are used regularly to control pain and symptoms. 10 - Hospice patients live an average of 29 days longer than those that do not receive hospice care. 11 - Hospice care is provided anywhere your loved one lives, including private residences, assisted living communities, and long-term care facilities. 12 - Our care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies. We understand that choosing to stop curative treatments and begin care and comfort services can be overwhelming. If you have questions like ' is now the right time’ or if you wonder ‘when will the right time be”, you can call and speak to one of our clinical directors. An Ascend nurse or social worker can meet with you and your family members and provide information on all of the services available to you. Once you are ready your physician, our team of nurses, our medical director, and our chaplains, social workers, and aides will be with you and your family on every part of your journey ensuring that your care and comfort are our first priority.