Hospice

Home Health Care Hospice February 27, 2024

Celebrating Excellence in the Workplace

The value placed on workplace culture has never been higher. It’s important to create a workplace environment where employees feel not just satisfied but truly proud to be a member of the team. Our workplace culture reflects the commitment of our team members and leadership. In 2023, these efforts were celebrated as we proudly received Top Workplace recognition by distinguished publications such as the Chicago Tribune and Detroit Free Press, alongside being acknowledged as a Best Place to Work by the Central Penn Business Journal.

13 Years of Top Workplace Recognition

This acknowledgement represents our unwavering commitment to cultivating a supportive and passionate work culture among our team. Our journey of recognition spans several years, with accolades by the Detroit Free Press since 2011 for our Troy, Michigan Home Health and Hospice programs, and since 2018 for our Lapeer, Michigan Home Health and Hospice programs, showcasing our consistent dedication to our team’s satisfaction. Similarly, our Illinois Home Health and Hospice programs have been recognized as a top workplace by Chicago Tribune for a multitude of years (2018-2019 and 2021-2023).

The Top Workplaces distinction by Chicago Tribue and Detroit Free Press, evaluated solely through employee feedback, measures various aspects of the workplace experience, including values, inclusion, communication, training, benefits, and more. Best Places to Work recognition by the Central Penn Business Journal includes a comprehensive evaluation of workplace policies, practices, demographics, and an insightful employee survey. “This year’s 2023 Best Places to Work in PA winners make sure their teams feel appreciated, engaged and challenged. They foster a positive environment for innovative teams to thrive,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Central Penn Business Journal and Lehigh Valley Business.

Industry-Leading Employer in Home Health and Hospice

At Residential Healthcare Group, we care where you are, prioritizing that our home health and hospice teams feel valued, respected, and empowered. This is exemplified through our benefits programs, comprehensive onboarding programs, and flexible scheduling opportunities. It’s not just about achieving recognition; it’s about continuously striving to enhance our workplace culture and experiences for all who impactfully contribute to the care of our patients and their families.

Hospice

Hospice February 21, 2024

Importance of Hospice Care for Kidney Failure

Navigating the complexities of end-stage kidney disease, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), can be daunting for patients and their families. As kidney failure progresses, it often elevates challenges, including managing symptoms, maintaining quality of life, and making difficult decisions about hospice care options. In this article, we explore when to consider hospice and how it can provide compassionate care and support during an overwhelming time.

When to Consider Hospice Care for Kidney Disease?

Several factors may indicate that it’s time to consider hospice care for individuals with kidney failure:

Decline in Kidney Function

As kidney function continues to deteriorate despite medical interventions, hospice can provide specialized support tailored to the individual’s needs, such as enforcing a restricted diet.

Persistent Kidney Failure Symptoms

If symptoms such as pain, fatigue, nausea, or difficulty breathing become increasingly challenging to manage, hospice can offer expert symptom management to improve comfort for individuals with chronic kidney disease.

Desire to Focus on Comfort

When curative treatments, such as dialysis, are no longer effective or desired, hospice shifts the focus to providing comfort and improving quality of life for the remainder of the patient’s life.

Caregiver Burnout

When caregiving responsibilities become overwhelming for family members or caregivers, hospice can provide support and relief, ensuring both the patient and their caregivers receive the assistance they need.

Hospice Benefit Qualifiers for Kidney Disease

Creatinine clearance of <10cc/min (<15cc/min for diabetics) AND serum creatinine >8.0 mg/dl (>6.0 mg/dl for diabetics) or GFR of less than 10
Patient has chosen not to have renal dialysis
Structural and functional impairments
Comorbid and secondary conditions contribute to terminal prognosis
Nausea or vomiting
Uremia with obtundation
Intractable hyperkalemia
Hepatorenal syndrome
Platelet count <25,000
Pruritus
Self-care deficits
Activity limitations
Uremic pericarditis
Anorexia
Albumin <3.5 gm/dl

Purpose of Hospice Care for Kidney Disease

Hospice care provides comprehensive support and comfort during the advanced stages of kidney disease. Hospice focuses on enhancing the quality of life by managing symptoms such as pain, nausea, and fatigue, while also addressing the emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of patients and their families. Hospice care teams (consisting of healthcare professionals including nurses, social workers, and counselors) collaborate to ensure personalized care tailored to the individual’s preferences and goals. Additionally, hospice fosters open communication about end-of-life wishes and facilitates a peaceful and dignified transition for patients nearing the end of their journey with kidney disease.

Understanding End-Stage Kidney Disease

End-stage kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to function to maintain life. This could be due to various reasons, such as chronic conditions including diabetes or high blood pressure, or other kidney-related illnesses. As kidney failure progresses, individuals may experience a decline in kidney function, leading to complications such as fluid retention, electrolyte imbalances, and toxin buildup. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, more than 500,000 people in the United States live with end-stage renal disease.

In conclusion, considering hospice care for individuals with kidney disease is an important decision that should be based on the individual’s medical condition, symptom management needs, and personal preferences. By offering comprehensive support and focusing on improving quality of life, hospice can provide comfort and dignity to patients and their families during this challenging journey of end-stage kidney failure.

Hospice

Hospice October 5, 2023

Some people think of “hospice” as a bad word

Why? Because they don’t realize how positive the hospice experience can be. The good news is that hospice is gaining understanding worldwide, and each person who opens his or her mind to it is more likely to be comfortable, in control of events, settled with their choices and at peace at the end of their life.

At Residential Hospice, we believe strongly that everyone has the right to their own healthcare wishes and desires and should be in control of their healthcare plans.

We have decades of experience helping patients and their families prepare and plan for life after a difficult diagnosis. Our teams help patients to use the time they have to plan for the environment they want to have around them, settle their financial and other affairs, heal damaged relationships and experience the beauty and meaning of their last days – all with minimal discomfort.

Residential Hospice is a life-affirming gift to give to yourself or a loved one. Here are some fast facts:

Residential Hospice comes from a place of “yes.” When any patient has an unusual request or need, we do everything we can to go above and beyond to say “yes.”
Our Care Teams collaborate with the patient and family to tailor the Care Plan to their specific needs and preferences.
We offer many specialty services to relieve symptoms and enhance the patient’s experience, like aromatherapy, massage, pet and music therapy, virtual reality experiences and hospice doulas.
Residential Hospice is a partner in the national organization We Honor Veterans, ensuring that we are specially qualified to meet the unique needs of veteran patients.
When a patient receives a scary and confusing diagnosis, Residential Hospice is a soft landing place.

A difficult diagnosis can leave people feeling stressed, confused and frightened. What a relief to finally relax and allow experts to make life easier, more comfortable and more meaningful! If you have any questions or concerns at all, please contact us or learn more HERE. We are here for you and your family.

Hospice

Home Health Care Hospice Palliative Care January 20, 2018

When adults teach children about manners, they might remind them to say ‘please’ by prompting, ‘What’s the magic word?’ This is our introduction to ‘please’ — as the gateway to getting anything we want, whenever we want it. But by the time we reach adulthood and better understand politeness, the word loses a bit of its luster, no longer a mystical source of instant gratification.

In the realm of health care and chronic disease management, the word ‘please’ has its limits (although politeness always has its place, of course). No matter how kindly patients ask, how well they are recovering or responding to treatment takes priority over less urgent quality-of-life concerns like lost appetite, insomnia, or unpleasant side effects. What many patients coping with serious disease don’t realize, however, is that there is a magic word to get them the assistance they need, and that is ‘palliative care.’ Read on to learn how palliative care works in tandem with a patient’s existing treatment, but brings comfort and support within reach — you just need to ask. (more…)