Gentle Shepherd Blog

Our team at Gentle Shepherd Hospice wants you to have the practical information you need to make the most of every day. Check out these helpful articles and devotionals written by Kim Eckenroth our co-founder and VP of patient care.

Benefits of memory care

Benefits of memory care

A condition that causes memory loss (dementia) is one of the most common reasons an elder can no longer live at home. To meet the need for safe housing, some assisted living facilities offer "memory units" or "memory care." This a form of residential care specialized...

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Stress relief: only a breath away

Stress relief: only a breath away

As a family caregiver, you may often feel frazzled as you juggle responsibilities to your loved one and everything else in your life. The good news is that you carry a tool for stress relief with you everywhere, all the time. It's your breath! Specifically, how you...

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Essential tremor: The basics

Essential tremor: The basics

Are you noticing a persistent shake in your loved one's hands, head, or voice? They might be dealing with essential tremor (ET), a common neurological condition that affects millions and typically appears after age sixty. The good news is that ET progresses slowly and...

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What is the Platinum Rule?

What is the Platinum Rule?

Did you say "yes" to being a healthcare decision maker for an aging loved one? It is an honor and a sign of trust to be chosen! And it is a powerful responsibility. As healthcare power of attorney (or proxy), your role is to make medical decisions for them if they...

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Treating yourself as a friend

Treating yourself as a friend

As a family caregiver, you probably hold yourself to a high standard. You expect yourself to react with kindness and patience at all times, no matter how unpleasant or inconvenient the task. Compassionate caring is a high ideal for family caregivers. But some days are...

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Who covers you in an emergency?

Who covers you in an emergency?

As a family caregiver, your role is essential to your loved one's well-being. But what happens if you get sick, injured, or face an emergency? Even if your relative is primarily taken care of by someone else, there's also a chance that person may be unavailable at...

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Navigating frustration as a caregiver

Navigating frustration as a caregiver

Does caring for a loved one stir up some unwanted emotions for you? You're not alone. While frustration may feel shameful to admit, it's a common challenge in family caregiving. Think of frustration as the froth from deeper feelings brewing inside, such as...

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Could it be a misdiagnosis?

Could it be a misdiagnosis?

Misdiagnosis happens more often than you think, and it occurs more frequently for older adults than for others. There are myriad reasons why: Symptoms of many health concerns mimic or overlap those of other conditions, and older adults typically have multiple health...

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Safe disposal of “sharps”

Safe disposal of “sharps”

Home management of a chronic illness often requires the use of needles or lances. You may need to give your family member shots. Or draw drops of blood for testing. All these procedures involve the use of what are known as "sharps." Needles, infusion sets, and other...

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Engaging activities for dementia

Engaging activities for dementia

If your loved one has Alzheimer's or another dementia, you may wonder what you can do to keep their life lively and boredom at bay. There are likely more options than you realize! The first step is to reflect on your relative's history and hobbies. They'll engage best...

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Heart attack warning signs

Heart attack warning signs

Heart attacks don't always look like what you'd expect. While you might imagine a person collapsing with intense chest pain, that may not at all resemble what happens. It is true that the most common heart attack symptom for a man or woman is chest pain or...

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Fire escape planning for older adults

Fire escape planning for older adults

Creating a fire escape plan is smart for everyone but essential for older adults, who are at greater risk during a fire. Planning in advance can make all the difference. Consider the living situation. Ideally, your loved one would live, or at least sleep, on the...

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