Winter 2021/2022

Kelly Planton, NP

At 98, Betty* had lived in her home for 63 years—and she wanted to stay. It was where she raised her children and where her husband died. Her goal was to stay there until the end of her life, as well. This is how Agrace Supportive Care helped her do it.

Betty had struggled with pain in her back for 30 years. As it increased, Betty’s daughter, Marlene,* had to help her more and more. Betty did not want to go to the hospital, and it was hard to go to the clinic. She had tried several remedies for pain but did not tolerate them well. Marlene had heard about Agrace Supportive Care and got her mom a referral.

Agrace Supportive Care provides in-home palliative care visits to people who are living with serious or chronic illnesses, but are not in hospice care. We help people get better relief from their physical symptoms and stress—while they continue treatment for their illness.

Kelly Planton, an Agrace nurse practitioner, started Betty’s care by visiting her at home. “I looked at what caused the pain, but also how she moved in her environment,” Kelly notes.

Unlike a clinic visit, this home consultation let Kelly see how Betty’s surroundings affected her pain. Kelly also reviewed Betty’s medications and talked with her and Marlene about other medications to try. Kelly says, “We talked about the risks and benefits of each option. Then we connected with Betty’s primary care doctor, and everyone agreed she would try a new medication for her pain.”

A month after Betty’s consultation visit, Kelly visited her at home again. “Her pain had improved significantly with the new medication. She was better able to move around her house and was sleeping better—and she was not having side effects,” Kelly says.

Decisions Based on Your Goals

Fast forward 18 months. Betty, now 99, was still living at home with support from Marlene. An increase in her pain brought Kelly back to visit. A medication change helped, and Kelly continued to visit every few months, coordinating with Betty’s other health care providers. Betty was very clear that she did not want to go to the hospital or clinic, if possible.

Agrace Supportive Care continued to help Betty, including managing her symptoms at home after a hospitalization for pneumonia. Kelly remembers, “She told us that if the pneumonia returned, she did not want aggressive measures or new treatments, even if that meant she would be nearing the end of her life.”

Marlene was part of these discussions and supported her mother’s goals. Together with Kelly, they made a plan for what would happen if Betty’s pain worsened or her shortness of breath returned.

Eventually, as Betty’s health declined further, she chose to transition from Supportive Care to hospice for end-of-life care. She was in hospice care for two months and died peacefully in her home, as she had wanted.

Do you know someone who could use more support as they cope with a serious illness? Call (800) 930-2770 or click below to learn more.

Tip: Share sibling memories

When a brother or sister dies, grief can hit us differently than when other relatives die. Siblings feel like part of us—they’re often similar in age and have shared memories. They may have insight into our family that no one else knows. When they die, those lost connections add a layer to our grief.

Yet the focus after a death is often on other survivors: parents, spouse/partner or children. Siblings can feel forgotten and their grief unacknowledged. When you are supporting someone after the death of a sibling, remember these tips:

1. Whatever emotions they are feeling are normal and valid; sadness, anxiety, loneliness, relief, anger—it’s all valid.
2. Check in, ask about their sibling and share memories; use the sibling’s name.
3. Offer to bring a meal, walk their dog or pick up some groceries.
4. Family relationships may change, and get-togethers will feel different. You can show your support by asking about, and acknowledging, these changes.

Heart disease touches nearly every family in America. Breathing trouble, fatigue and other symptoms of end-stage heart disease lead to frequent visits to the doctor’s office, emergency room and hospital. More Americans die from heart disease each year than any other condition, including cancer.

To offer more support for patients with advanced heart disease, Agrace has collaborated with the American Heart Association on an Advanced Cardiac Care Program. Agrace Hospice Care is one of the first hospices in the country to join this effort.

As part of the program, our clinical staff receive specialized training on how to manage the symptoms of advanced heart disease and keep our patients comfortable—wherever they receive care. With Agrace, patients who have heart disease can continue treatments that control their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

The Advanced Cardiac Care Program’s care guide can help prevent the repeat hospital and emergency room visits that are a huge source of stress for patients and families.

Here’s an opportunity for you to help Agrace Hospice Care continue to improve our services. Our Patient and Family Partnership Council is recruiting people who:

• experienced our support while a family member or friend was a patient,
• feel comfortable sharing thoughts and ideas in a small group setting,
• want to help Agrace improve our services,
• want to affect how end-of-life care is designed and delivered, and
• can meet with the Council (either in person or via Zoom) once a month.

To learn more, email Dawn Ferengo or call her at (608) 276-4660.