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End With Care Blog
Hospice Pet Therapy
Posted on August 30, 2018
If you have ever had a pet, you know the pure joy and unconditional love that dogs, cats, and other furry friends can bring into our lives. In fact, studies suggest that cuddling or petting an animal can reduce rates of stress, anxiety, and even depression. These positive effects have inspired many hospice organizations to use pet therapy as way to increase the quality of life of patients with serious and terminal illnesses.
What is Pet Therapy?
Pet thera...
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Understanding Life Support
Posted on August 7, 2018
Although the term “life support” is actually quite broad, when most people use this term, they are referring to a ventilator, or a machine that helps people breathe by pushing air into the lungs. Other common life support treatments include feeding tubes (devices to provide food and water) and CPR. When a patient is terminally ill, medical interventions such as life support can prolong the life of the patient. It is estimated that 60-70% of seriously ill patients will not be able to decide for themselves whether or not they want to accept life support. Therefore family members or caregivers are often left wit...
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Become an Organ Donor
Posted on July 6, 2018
It has been nearly 65 years since surgeons at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston successfully transplanted a kidney between living identical twin brothers. Since that time, transplants have become established medical procedures. Coupling advances in medicine with the gift of organ donations, transplants are saving or extending the lives of hundreds of thousands.
Some hard facts about organ donation are that over 115,000 people across the United States currently wait for a transplant and some 5000 of those individuals live within New England. Some harder fac...
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Financial Decisions and End-of-Life Care
Posted on June 4, 2018
Sadly, there will come a time where you are faced with making difficult decisions about end of life care for yourself or a family member. Whether it is sudden and unexpected or a slow winding road, the period is often fraught with many decisions regarding the needs and comfort of your loved one and unfortunately, very real costs. Medical costs over the last year of life can average approximately $59,100, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. The costs that come attached to life-extending medical care, necessary adjustments to the home or making the important decision on palliative...
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