Local hospice workers and patients emphasize dignity and comfort
May 12—The call for end-of-life care is growing along with the aging U.S. population, and local hospices are striving to meet that need.
Local registered nurse Lisa Rygalski has cared for dying patients throughout her career. However, in recent years, she went from professional caregiver to the recipient of hospice assistance when her mother and later her husband were placed in hospice care.
"I found it hard to separate my nurse self from my daughter or wife self," Rygalski said. "I finally had to step away sometimes and say, 'You can clean my mom,' or, 'You can take care of my husband.' And hospice made me feel comfortable doing that."
This is the kind of care hospice provides. In St. Joseph, Mosaic has an extensive hospice program. Also, private companies like Three Oaks Hospice use a team approach not only to care for dying patients, but also to give relief to family members, according to home health aid Jerry Pepper.
"I provide things like bathing, emotional support and companionship," Pepper said. "Hospice isn't just about dying. We want to make it much more than that."
Hospice provides a full range of services for the personal care of patients, who, because of the comfort care and pain management they receive from hospice, can live an additional six months or more. Some are even able to withdraw from hospice care due to the treatment and care they receive. Hospice also provides services to caregivers, so that they can manage their own schedules and get needed rest. Hospice chaplain Jennifer Kusilek said that part of their team assessment includes a meeting with families about any spiritual or religious needs they may require while under the care of hospice.
"I serve them based on their faith," Kusilek said. "I connect them to whatever faith is their preference, and we respect their request even if they choose not to have faith-based or religious care. It is about whatever best serves our patient."
Kusilek said that they, like many programs, provide follow-up with families even after the death of the loved one in care. When a patient is near death, hospice can relieve the family of details like planning and paperwork, so that family members and close friends can concentrate on spending quality time with the patient. Afterward, hospice provides resources to assist with the grief process.
"We hold grief-share classes throughout the year and special services to commemorate the passing of a loved one," Kusilek said.
For Rygalski, hospice for her was not about giving up. Instead, she said, it was about making sure both her mother and her husband had the best quality of life possible as their lives came to an end.
"Quality of life is huge," Rygalski said. "Comfort is the main goal."
Charles Christian anchors the evening news for News-Press NOW and also serves as an ordained minister at United Methodist Churches in Union Star and Helena, Missouri. Charles can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter: @NPNowChristian.