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.
Researching treatments online
For those facing a serious—or even incurable—condition, the Internet can seem to be the last refuge of hope. But how can you distinguish a trustworthy website from that of a huckster? "Follow the money" is an important key for deciding if a website is truly unbiased....
In Our Words — Behind the scenes
Staff comments compiled by: Lynette Mutter Mull, Director of Strategic Development and Mission Advancement Hardly a week (or day) goes by without us receiving a thoughtful thank you note from the loved ones of a patient we have cared for. Mary Bowser, one of our...
Age-friendly kitchen
Aging creates so many "new normals." Even routine activities such as cooking may become challenging for your loved one. Balance issues can make reaching, bending, or lifting a problem. Arthritis often makes it difficult to maneuver pans and tools, turn on a faucet, or...
The Power of Words
Co-founder and Vice President Kim Eckenroth, MS, APRN, FNP-C, often writes devotionals for our staff. We thought you might also appreciate them, so we created a special section on our blog to share them with you. We hope they touch your heart too....
Setting Limits Nicely
Many of us were raised to believe that the only polite or kind answer is "yes." But as Dr. Christine Carter, a UC Berkeley researcher, notes, "If you find yourself saying 'yes' when you mean 'no,' it's a recipe for overwhelm and exhaustion." Not to mention resentment,...
The Love of Family
Co-founder and Vice President Kim Eckenroth, MS, APRN, FNP-C, often writes devotionals for our staff. We thought you might also appreciate them, so we created a special section on our blog to share them with you. We hope they touch your heart too. As I...
Conserving Energy
People with congestive heart failure (CHF) often tire easily, especially if they exert themselves. In CHF, the heart is swollen with fluids and cannot beat efficiently. The body's cells then become hungry for oxygen. If your loved one has CHF, you witness this in his...
Embarrassing Behaviors
What do you do when sweet Mom starts cursing angrily? When straitlaced Dad makes off-color remarks? In persons with dementia, these behaviors are not on purpose. They are caused by the brain changes of the disease. If you can’t find humor in the situation, draw...
Bathing and Dementia
Bathing brings many discomforts. Bathrooms can feel cold and drafty when a person is wet. And running water can be noisy. Nudity makes bathing very intimate, which can be distressing when a modest person needs help and may not recognize the helper. Plus, bathing is a...
Mackenzie recently shared this with us. She is a welcomed member of the Gentle Shepherd family!
Signature strength: Calm
Many of us admire people who have the gift of remaining calm. Calm as a signature strength is the ability to respond to threats from a place of appropriate confidence. To remain "centered." It's not always easy to achieve. Our bodies react to the stresses of modern...
Preparing for a safe return
No one can keep an eye on another person 24/7. Even in the most vigilant household, a loved one with dementia—Alzheimer's or other memory disorder—may just find a way to slip out the door. After you have set up strategies to reduce the chance of wandering, it is also...