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.
The Season of Thankfulness
We woke early this morning, at 5 a.m., threw our sweet Bella [golden retriever] in the car and decided to take a few days away for some R&R. We felt this was much needed after Don’s recent return on a 16,000 mile flight from travels in a familiar yet foreign land...
A Dream Come True
A while back, we were contacted by the son of one of our CNAs, Tracy Ritter, seeking support for his Eagle Scout project – to rebuild one of the overlook decks on Mill Mountain. Impressed with Wesley’s initiative for such an ambitious undertaking, Gentle Shepherd made...
Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis is Key to Effective Treatment
Last week, Gentle Shepherd Hospice sponsored and attended the annual Central and Southwest Virginia Alzheimer’s Association conference in Roanoke. We learned some alarming statistics: Currently, there are 5.8 million Americans living with dementia. One in three...
Talking about brain health
Are you concerned a loved one may have dementia? If so, be careful how you bring it up. It’s a scary subject! Before jumping to conclusions, gather some information. Ask family members and close friends what they have observed. Have others noticed changes? Think of...
Preventing flare-ups of COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) thickens airways, making it harder to breathe in and get enough oxygen. Damage to the lungs also makes it harder to exhale and get rid of waste gas (carbon dioxide). COPD is characterized by flare-ups that rather suddenly...
Making Memories with Mom
Many on staff here at Gentle Shepherd are also personally dealing with serious illness in their own families too. Here’s a sweet and thought-provoking email we all received this morning from a nurse practitioner who works with us. Happy Wednesday everyone! I just...
Africa Bound
Hey Everyone! Praying you all had a chance to recharge your batteries over the weekend and you have enjoyed your brief break. Don got off yesterday morning for his mission work in Uganda. Please keep the mission project and our dear folks in Uganda in your prayers…...
Red flags for COPD
November is COPD Awareness month. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a lung condition that gets steadily worse over time. It is often characterized by "flares," or "exacerbations," periods when breathing suddenly becomes more difficult. It can be very...
Emotions following a stroke
A stroke usually results in damage to the brain. Some of the effects will be permanent. Others, temporary. Through exercises and practice, your relative may regain many if not all of his or her physical abilities. The emotional toll What takes most patients and...
What is a physical therapist?
Trusting the body's ability to heal itself and get stronger: This is the basis of physical therapy. Physical therapists use exercises and hands-on care to reduce physical pain and limitations. Their motto? "Physical therapy brings motion to life." Their goal is to...
Lessons from theater improv
While there is no denying the hardships of Alzheimer's and other dementias, a growing number of families are exploring innovative strategies for including lightness and laughter on the journey. One option is to steal a page from the theater arts—specifically,...
Preparing to Care for Aging Loved Ones (Part 2 of 2)
This is a second interview in a Focus on the Family series on caregiving. As they discuss their personal journeys in caring for aging family members, Michele Howe and Lisa Anderson offer insights on many aspects of caregiving, including the difficulties of...