H.R. 3200 Section 1233 introduced by Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer last year would reimburse physicians for holding end-of-life discussions with their patients. I have mentioned it only briefly in this blog, and I want to communicate a few thoughts about it. First, the conservative labeling of the bill as creating “death panels” is misleading. I…
HOPE Session Tomorrow Evening
Tomorrow from 6-8PM, at the Culinary School of Fort Worth, our chaplain, Mike Shreve, will host our first grief counseling HOPE session. The Culinary School address is 6100 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76116 (just above La Madeleine on Camp Bowie). If you have recently suffered the loss of a loved one, please join…
Pastor: We need more funerals
An article in this week’s Christianity Today spotlighted pastor John Stoltzfus who noted, “Our church doesn’t have enough funerals.” His Mennonite community members often leave town to live with children when they become elderly and require more care. As such, the mentioned church’s senior pastor has performed only 10 funerals in 8 years. So why…
Grief Session Wednesday June 9
If you ask anyone what is the most difficult life trial they have faced, many will say the loss of a loved one. It is a near universal experience, the felt loss is devastating, and support for those struggling through it is not readily available. We at Texas Hospice are committed to improving and expanding…
Not Just a Manicure
While visiting a patient last week, I witnessed a family member giving our patient a manicure. It was beautiful to see. Both were enjoying themselves immensely. A manicure isn’t much, is it? It doesn’t take long, or much skill to clean and polish nails. From a hospice standpoint, there aren’t any studies looking at the…
Receiving Hospice AND Curative Treatment
The new health bill sets up 15 studies to look at offering curative treatment to hospice patients. That sounds counter-intuitive, but there is a reason for the provision. Most of the time, there are no curative options for hospice patients. Good examples are emphysema patients that have exhausted all possible lung treatments. These folks need…
New Caregiver law that pertains to family of hospice patients
From the Alive Blog: The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (S. 1963) was signed into law May 5, 2010. The law helps family caregivers of veterans by providing information and training, ongoing supportive services, respite, and counseling. Those caring for veterans who were injured in the line of duty after September 11, 2001…
Living and Dying Wills
In October 1991, Gilbert Meilaender, who chairs the theology department at Valparaiso University, wrote an evocative essay on making decisions through living wills. The article appeared in First Things and is called “I want to Burden my Loved Ones.” Professor Meilaender makes the point that family members need each other to make it through life. …
William Wilberforce and End of Life
Many people saw the 2006 film, Amazing Grace, about the British slave-trade abolitionist, William Wilberforce. In summary, after his conversion to Christ as an adult, Wilberforce, a powerful member of Parliament, sets all his energies toward stopping the 19th century British slave trade. Despite many obstacles, and through decades of labor, he succeeds, and then…
Family Caregiver Support
From the Hospice Foundation of America: The American Cancer Society is offering a series of telephone workshops for loved ones of those with cancer. The free workshops include tips and practical problem-solving techniques, as well as time for questions. The following telephone sessions are scheduled: Monday, May 3, 2-3:15 p.m., and Wednesday, May 12, 7-8:15…
