Attitude of Gratitude

The Access Home Care and Hospice team would like to express our gratitude to the patients we care for, their families, our employees, and those we do business with in the many communities throughout Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. We are thankful for being a healthcare provider and consider it a privilege to provide home care and hospice services.

From all the Access team, THANK YOU and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Celebrating National Hospice and Palliative Care Month

A hospice nurse was recently asked, “How can you work in hospice – it must be so sad!”

She answered, “I love providing highly-skilled, compassionate care because I know I make a huge difference in the quality of a person’s life. Hospice isn’t about dying but is about living as fully as possible despite a life-limiting illness. I love that I can use my training as a nurse to bring comfort and dignity to my patients, and seeing the relief on their faces and on the faces of those who care for them. I love being a part of a professional hospice team that works together to offer individualized, holistic care to families when it is critically needed. I love that I can offer practical solutions to patients and families at one of life’s most challenging moments.”

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time to draw attention and raise awareness of this special kind of care.

What is Hospice Care

Hospice care provides pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible.  The nation’s hospices serve more than 1.5 million people every year – and their family caregivers, too.

Hospice care if fully covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans and HMOs. 

Many people only consider hospice care in the final days of life but hospice is ideally suited to care for patients and family caregivers for the final months of life.

What is Palliative Care

Palliative care brings the same interdisciplinary team care as hospice to people earlier in the course of a serious illness and can be provided along with other treatments they may still be receiving from their doctor.

Hospices are the largest providers of palliative care services and can help answer questions about what might be most appropriate for a person.  Many hospitals also have palliative care teams available to provide services.

Hospice and palliative care are available to people of all ages with any serious or life-limiting illness.

Hospice and palliative care combine the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support for patients and family caregivers.  Hospice and palliative care can may a profound difference and help maximize the quality of life for all those they care for.

To learn more and for a free in-home consultation, contact your local Access Hospice Office .   You can also visit Caring Connections, a website dedicated to helping those wanting to learn more about hospice and palliative care - www.caringinfo.org.

                                                                                         

Access Corn Belly’s Party, Salt Lake City, Utah Office

Access SLC celebrated their annual staff party at Corn Belly’s this festive fall season. As you can tell, they had a fun time and the staff turnout was great. It was a special treat for everyone to get to know each other and their families outside of work. Hope everyone enjoys the pictures and is enjoying this special time of year. 

Bereavement a Big Part of Access Home Care and Hospice

In October 2013, the Access Logan office was able to share bereavement for all previous family members that had a loved one pass on. They met at Willow Park and enjoyed great food and companionship. When the time came to reflect, they wrote messages, remarks, and thoughts on balloons which allowed them to continue the loving memories. Then together, they released those memories.

Best penned by Thomas Moore…"Fond memories brings the light of other days around me."

A Liver for Luke

At Access, we are determined to be involved in our communities and help those in need. A Liver for Luke is an ongoing fundraiser. This is a young man that desperately needs a liver to improve his quality of life. The event below helped bring community members together and all had a great time for a VERY good cause. Donations are still being accepted and as mentioned in the following paragraph, you can get more info by going to their Facebook page here.

“A Liver for Luke’ fundraiser will be held Saturday Sept 28^th from 11a.m. to 4p.m. at 200 West Center in Hyde Park.  Featuring live music, face painting, rock climbing, cotton candy, food & drinks, 5k or 1 mile run at 10a.m., silent auction and games for kids. Luke Rigby is in liver failure and awaiting a transplant.  He hasn’t been able to work for months because of the pain, he has to get dialysis 2 times/ week and then he has to take a weekly trip to Salt Lake for tests to see whether or not he will be moved up on the transplant list.  Medical bills are piling up and family & friends have organized this event for Luke and his wife Tiffani.  All proceeds will go to the couple to help with medical costs.  (Also as part of the fundraiser: there are 2 tickets to the sold-out Luke Bryan concert that have been donated to the cause for $300 a piece).  For more information: see “A Liver for Luke” on Facebook”

Access Participates in Ensign Foundation Golf Tournament

Access Home Care and Hospice joined dozens of other participants in the annual Ensign Foundation Golf Tournament held at Red Ledges Golf Resort in Heber City, Utah.  The mission of the Ensign Foundation is to enhance the quality of life of the most vulnerable members of our society and encourage our local and global community to advocate on their behalf.  All proceeds from the tournament went to the foundation to help accomplish its mission.  Access Home Care and Hospice was a proud sponsor of the tournament and we look forward to continuing our support.

Access Hospice Staff Featured on Idaho Hospice Coalition Website

Hannah Davidson, Registered Nurse, and Velana Roth, Licensed Social Worker, for Access Hospice of Pocatello, Idaho were featured on the Idaho Quality of Life Coalition's website. Their knowledge and expertise are highlighted in the following videos:



The Idaho Quality of Life Coalition is Idaho's hospice coalition and consists of professionals, private citizens, and businesses working together to provide education and information on hospice, palliative care, and advanced planning.  Their mission is to work collaboratively with their partners in providing education, tools, and resources to promote quality of life through advance planning, hospice, and palliative care.  Great job Hannah and Velana for sharing your knowledge and for all you do for your hospice patients!