Emma Harutyunyan’s Post

EP #11 Compassionate Conversations - Ancora Compassionate Care - February 2024 - https://lnkd.in/dq6y5UFA In Ancora Compassionate Care's Compassionate Conversations show - Episode #11, Lynn Flanagan, CEO, Ancora Compassionate Care talks with Megan Cole, LCSW, Director of Support Services and Kayla O'Boyle, LCSW, Support Services Team Leader. For more than 35 years Ancora Compassionate Care has had the privilege of serving, supporting, and caring for patients in Rockingham and surrounding counties who are facing a life-limiting illness. In addition to providing quality end-of-life care (hospice), we also provide palliative care. We refer to that as Serious Illness Care. Our mission is to be a supportive presence for life's journey. Whether it is hospice care or serious illness care, our team recognizes that everyone's journey is different and requires a different level of support. You may not even realize what kind of support you need until you are in the middle of a difficult time. Our healthcare system can be difficult to navigate, medical terminology can be confusing; there is so much information to process. During this time, a family often has hard conversations that can evoke strong emotions. Our goal for this podcast that we are calling Compassionate Conversations is that it will serve as another layer of support for the community that we serve. That support may come in the form of education. It may come in the form of truth-telling to battle some of the misconceptions that exist around end-of-life care. We hope to provide a space to have the hard conversations and answer the difficult questions with compassion, dignity, and respect. To learn more about Ancora Compassionate Care, visit: www.ancoracc.org To suggest topics for future shows, email us at: info@ancoracc.org ###

Today’s question comes from our E•O•L Deck and asks about how direct you want medical professionals to be. This is typically the first E•O•L Deck question that I ask my hospice patients. In my opinion, this is a very important aspect of quality end-of-life care. Some people prefer to know everything themselves. Others prefer for their family members to be the ones to determine what they know about their disease progression. For individuals that prefer all of the information, I provide them with a copy of Barbara Karnes, RN booklet, Gone From My Sight, the first time that I meet them and we go through it together. We then discuss it again more in depth during my next hospice social work visit, once they’ve had time to read and reflect on their own. The E•O•L Deck is a tool to help professionals and family members facilitate conversations with people approaching end-of-life. Using multiple-choice questions and a casual tone, The E•O•L Deck explores legacy and end-of-life preferences in an approachable manner. Learn more about The E•O•L Deck (link in comments). What would your answer be?

Being empathetic and compassionate is an important part of providing palliative care. It's about listening. Here are a few statements that express empathy and compassion: 🤍 It sounds like this is really hard for you. I want to understand how this is for you. Can you tell me more? 🤍 I am here for you. Please tell me what would be helpful. 🤍 It sounds like you are living with much uncertainty. How is this for you? Empathy is the key that opens the door to connection and communication. 🗝️ In our resource library, we have a variety of tools for helping caregivers improve their communication skills when working with patients. Explore them here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gUz2588H

This is a *very* simplified way of explaining why it's important to be extra mindful when it comes to choosing a palliative or hospice care person or team. We want to help everyone make challenging life and end-of-life decisions with confidence. We're illustrating why this topic is important alongside some potential “watch-outs" so you make a good decision! Don’t be dissuaded just because there are things to watch out for. The fact is, choosing a care provider that *you and your family trust and enjoy working with* can make a world of difference to anyone relying on them. If you'd like a fuller explanation for what we have listed, you'll find an expanded version of this chart on our Palliative Care vs Hospice Care page at LightAtTheEnd.com. This is the first in a planned series, and we hope you find it useful!

✨ Is Your Child's Care Package Truly Working for You? ✨ As a parent of a life-limited child with complex medical needs, I know first-hand the daily challenges of relying on a care agency. I faced countless nights of worry: Would the staff show up? Would they understand the unique requirements of my son’s care? Are they trained to the level we need? For me, that ended 8 years ago when I was let down by the agency and I felt I had nowhere left to turn as like many parents, I feel stuck with inconsistent, under-resourced care. But there’s another way. 💡 That's why I created this quiz—to help parents like us take a closer look at our care packages and explore other options that put our children's needs first. 🔹 Does your child’s care package provide the support you hoped for? 🔹 Are you spending more time managing care than being a parent? If any of this resonates, this quiz can be a powerful first step to see if your current setup is truly supporting your family’s needs or if there’s a better way. Take the quiz to discover insights and consider if there are alternative paths to manage your child’s care effectively and with greater peace of mind. 💙 👉 https://lnkd.in/d_5gW2HK Because sometimes, taking control isn’t about doing more work—it’s about having more say in what’s best for your child. Take it from a parent that's been there. Be curious!

Here what our palliative care leaders have to say about our program:

[BLOG] Advance Care Planning - A Lifeline for Your Family What if you suddenly found yourself in an emergency room unable to speak for yourself? Does your family know your wishes for life support decisions? Read more in our latest blog here: https://lnkd.in/g7PY5iNM In this article we outline 3 important ways to prepare for a serious illness or medical emergency. 1. Create an Advance Care Plan 2. Create a Personal Directive in Alberta and appoint an agent 3. Communicate your Advance Care Plan with your agent, family, and doctor Advance Care Planning gives you control of your fate and a lifeline for your family saving them from indescribable grief. By defining your values and the criteria to make future medical decisions, you will be confident your voice will be heard and your wishes honoured. What about you? Have you created an Advance Care Plan? Let us know about your experience in the comments! #advancecareplan #advancecareplanning #professionalpowerofattorney #family #protect #personaldirectivealberta #personaldirective #estatepreparation #boomers #seniors

🌟 Upcoming PCNA Webinar: Sitting amongst Suffering in Palliative care: An Introduction to Reflective Practice🌟 Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the suffering you witness in your work? Do you find some patients impact you more deeply than others? These are big and important questions we will explore in the September webinar. Join us for an interactive session with Andrea Long, an experienced palliative care nurse and lecturer in spirituality. She will guide us through the challenging realities of sitting with suffering in palliative care and introduce reflective practice as a tool to better understand ourselves and our work with patients. 🖊️ What to Bring: Pen and paper 📅 Secure Your Spot: Limited places available! Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your practice. Register now!

End of life decisions can be incredibly difficult for patients, though we can help patients make these decisions and share their wishes with family and their care team. This webinar should be helpful for health care staff who wish to learn how to guide patients though the end of life decision-making process.