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.

Depression after a scary diagnosis

Depression after a scary diagnosis

If the person you care for has a life-threatening illness, you might think it's only natural for them to feel down. Even hopeless from time to time.  But weeks of sadness are not a side effect one simply has to tolerate. It is not uncommon for someone with cancer...

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Too many pills: When less is more

Too many pills: When less is more

More than half of older adults take five or more medications per day. That's "polypharmacy," and can be dangerous. Taking too many medicines can cause problems such as dizziness, mental confusion, and heart failure. It can create an increased risk of falls, which...

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Managing emotional outbursts

Managing emotional outbursts

If the person you care for has Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia, you may find their sudden emotional swings more difficult than their forgetfulness. Among many things, the disease has taken away their inhibitions. They can become quite irrational. And...

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The “dignity of risk”

The “dignity of risk”

One of the most challenging dilemmas when caring for an aging parent is balancing their preference for independence with your concern for their safety.  If you have noticed lapses in cleanliness, meals, bill payment, or other areas, you may be worried that your...

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Not all socks are created equal

Not all socks are created equal

What do a marathon runner and your aging parent have in common? Both could benefit from compression socks! By applying pressure to the legs, compression socks help the valves in the veins do their work—so blood is pushed back to the heart and doesn't pool in the legs....

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Dealing with anxiety

Dealing with anxiety

It's only natural for family caregivers to worry. Understandably, we spend a lot of time thinking about "what's next." But if you are in a pattern of persistent worry and are starting to feel the stress in your body too—perhaps headaches, loss of appetite, or trouble...

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Services at home: Medicare

Services at home: Medicare

Medicare is health insurance provided by the federal government. It covers adults 65 and older, as well as persons with disabilities. In terms of home care, Medicare pays for visits only by medically trained staff. In that light, there are two programs: Home health...

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Coping with another person’s pain

Coping with another person’s pain

When your family member is in pain, you are suffering, too. The "mirror neurons" in our brains are programmed to recognize pain in others. That's good news in that it arouses compassion and spurs us to action. But it can be bad news, too. When you are highly attuned...

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What is a daily money manager?

What is a daily money manager?

A financial advisor manages investments. A daily money manager (DMM) is someone who comes to the home once or twice a month to handle the mundane aspects of personal finances: Paying monthly bills (but your loved one signs the checks). Balancing the checkbook....

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The decision to stop dialysis

The decision to stop dialysis

Dialysis is life sustaining yet also quite taxing for the patient. About 25% of people who choose dialysis later decide to stop. Typically, this is because the burdens of this kidney disease treatment have severely reduced their quality of life. The tradeoff becomes...

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Learning to forgive yourself

Learning to forgive yourself

According to psychologist Rick Hanson, PhD, we all have an inner critic and an inner protector. Together they help us maintain a balanced perspective. But too often as family caregivers, we have an overload of guilt, shame, and remorse, always feeling our performance...

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The healing power of music

The healing power of music

Can listening to calming music actually ease pain? Can singing silly songs make you happier? Researchers say this isn't just a folktale—it represents some of the measurable effects of music on the mind and body. Although it's not yet clear exactly how music works its...

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