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.
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...
Preparing to Care for Aging Loved Ones (Part 1 of 2)
As our parents age, we can find ourselves in uncharted waters and overwhelmed by the unknown that looms on the horizon. This wonderful interview on Focus on the Family offers great insight for getting our bearings as we chart the course of this journey. Here's the...
When Dad resists a walker
For many older adults, use of a walker carries great stigma. It's a symbol of disability and often of isolation. In actual fact, a walker can be the key to staying actively engaged with favorite activities. The benefits of a walker It can bear up to 50% of a person's...
When caregiving ends: Activities
Reentry If caring for your loved one was the main focus of your day, after his or her passing, expect a feeling of emptiness to dominate your awareness. In caregiving, you may have given up many personal activities, friendships,...
Medicare Open Enrollment Tips
Are you happy with your relative's Medicare plan? If not, fall is the annual "Open Enrollment" period. This is when you can change plans for the coming year. Open Enrollment for 2019 is October 15 to December 7. Even if your loved one likes the current plan, consider...
A doctor’s visit after a fall
A surprising number of conditions, from simple to serious, can cause an older adult to fall. If you observed the fall or arrived soon after, find out if your loved one had a warning or felt dizzy beforehand. Any chance he or she fainted? Was the fall from stumbling on...
What is MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)?
"Senior moments" are a normal part of aging. They happen to everyone. We just don't process things as quickly as we did in younger years. Some people develop significant memory and thinking problems. These people are eventually unable to live safely on their own....