Having caregivers come to you, where you live, is one of the core benefits of hospice care, especially for patients who are living with dementia. But what happens when the care a patient needs can’t happen at home?
That’s when we have to be a little more resourceful.
A health downturn in February 2021 led Ella Braun’s family to enroll her in hospice care with Agrace. A care team began visiting Ella regularly at her assisted living apartment in Madison, which was a huge help to Ella’s family—especially her daughter Cindy Hasz, who visits daily to feed her mom.
Rebecca Johnson, RN and
Victoria Lange, CNA
Agrace RN Rebecca Johnson had been Ella’s hospice nurse for several months when Cindy noticed her mom was putting her fingers into her mouth. “Because of her dementia, it’s difficult for her to express pain,” Cindy explains. “So, I asked Rebecca to look. She’s not a dentist, but she could see that a tooth had an abscess. And she is always willing to go the extra mile when something is wrong.”
Rebecca called Affordable Dental Care, a Madison nonprofit that serves uninsured and at-risk dental patients: “I explained that Ella was a hospice patient, bedbound, and we would not be able to bring her in. I asked if Dr. Kepler ever saw patients at a facility, and she does not. They said they would see if there was a mobile dentist available and call me back.”
Rebecca and Cindy talked about care choices if Ella’s tooth could not be pulled. But soon, says Rebecca, “I got a call back from Affordable Dental Care, and Dr. Kepler offered to come out to Ella’s facility and remove the tooth—for free!”
“We could not believe she would be so kind as to do that,” Cindy remembers. “I think Rebecca must have been very convincing on the need for my mom to have this done.”
Planning Ahead for Relaxation, Relief
Cindy, Ella and Dr. Chelsea Kepler
“Rebecca planned her weekly visit to be here when the dentist was here,” Cindy explains. “We were concerned about how my mom would react: She could have been uncooperative, not understanding what was going on. Her CNA, Victoria, also came over just prior to the dental appointment and gave her a very thorough bath, with lotion. She was very relaxed when the dentist arrived. The timing of her regular meds, right before that, worked well, too. Everything worked in perfect harmony.
“I don’t think it could have gone any better. Dr. Kepler was very skilled and very compassionate about her care. My mom did not seem to be bothered by it at all, and that was amazing—that it went so well!
“Even though this was something new for Rebecca, she was determined to find a solution, to help my mom and provide comfort, which I know you guys are all about.”