by Tom Ratcliff

The overwhelming majority of hospice patients prefer to “LIVE” at home to receive their end-of-life care.  And that’s the key to In-House Hospice – Living every day to its fullest, at home, among familiar surroundings, with loved ones at their side.

Most hospice patients prefer to be at home surrounded by family, friends, and pets.  The In-House Hospice staff believes each day of life to their hospice patients is precious and they should be treated with warmth, dignity and respect.  In some cases hospice patients are not at home, but the In-House Hospice Team will visit and provide the same caring and comprehensive services to patients in nursing homes or assisted living centers.

A team of dedicated, professional caregivers is assigned to each patient. In-House Hospice believes that patients and family members are more accepting of the process once they get know the Care Team members. They are one of a very few companies that actually assign a specific care team to each patient. 

They also go the extra-mile by providing care services around the clock if necessary.  In-House Hospice is on the road every day caring for patients. Hospice care for a loved one can often be a very trying time for the patient as well as their family members. In-House Hospice has a full team of support people and services:

• Physicians, Medical Directors for directing palliative care
• Hospice Registered Nurses and Certified Nurse Aides.
• Hospice Social Workers
• Chaplains
• Massage Therapists
• Pet and Music Therapy Experts
• Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapists
• Pharmacists
• Volunteers: companions, bereavement volunteers and spiritual volunteers

When a loved one is facing a terminal disease and requires End-of-Life Care, it’s so important to make those last days as fulfilling and comfortable as humanly possible.  Thanks to In-House Hospice, your loved one can receive the highest level of professional care in their home, surrounded by those they treasure most – their home, family, friends, pets, and a dedicated team of Hospice Care Professionals.

For more information on In-House Hospice, please visit their website.

By Tom Ratcliff

All across America there are literally millions of Americans living with a disability. Some are in wheelchairs due to accident or disease, and some are limited in their ability to walk and move around freely.  Nonetheless, the United Spinal Association has been a comprehensive resource and advocate for disabled Americans for over 60 years.

The “Key” to changing your life for the better if you do have a disability is “Awareness”.  There are incredible innovations, technologies, medical-breakthroughs, support agencies, retail businesses, and even travel agencies that cater to people with disabilities. The United Spinal Association sponsors seminars and conferences and puts these services under one roof so people with disabilities can see what is available to them to enhance their lives.

Here are just a few examples of Upcoming Events:

From Within Conference

On Saturday, May 22nd, from 10 am to 4:30 pm, United Spinal’s Women Without Limits Program teams up with Independence Care System to present a conference program on self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-empowerment for women living with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. You won’t find another event that provides this much useful information on issues facing women with disabilities.
There is no charge for admission. 

2010 NY Independence Expo

United Spinal’s Independence Expo returns this year to Long Island, New York and Orlando, Florida. United Spinal’s Expos have continued to grow in size and scope, bringing together a diverse group of consumers, family members, and social service and healthcare professionals under one roof. This year, attendees will be offered more than ever before, including information on the latest treatment strategies, adaptive equipment, lifestyle-enhancing information, therapeutic breakthroughs, as well as a full line-up of workshops. The Expos will take place on Friday, June 25th, from 10am to 4pm and Saturday June 26th, from 11am to 5pm at Suffolk County Community College’s Sports & Exhibition Complex in Long Island, NY and Friday, October 1st, from 10am to 4pm, and Saturday, October 2nd, from 11am to 5pm at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Register online and admission for you and two guests is free.

Making Your Home Your Castle, Saturday June 26 at the NY Independence Expo
Architect, Laura Montllor, Director of the non-profit Home-Free-Home will explain design strategies for creating accessible home renovation projects.  Aging Senior’s should attend to learn how they can make their home more accessible for someone in a wheelchair or has limited mobility, especially in the bathroom and kitchen areas. Workshop attendees will also receive checklists for evaluating their home and get practical design guidelines.

Other premier events sponsored by United Spinal Association cover topics on living and independence (including information and services for senior citizens), State and Federal Legislation for People with Disabilities, pertinent healthcare issues, Best Practices Seminars for Healthcare Professionals, and many more.

Untied Spinal Association also offers a WheelChair Medic Program that repairs nearly 2300 wheelchairs annually. In fact, they have the only program that will travel to your home (if you live in New York City) and repair your wheelchair. They also have a vast selection of power and manual wheelchairs, scooters, adaptive sports equipment, and a full line of accessories. United Spinal Association will also ship wheelchair parts to their members across the USA.

Since the founding of the United Spinal Association in 1946, they have provided over 52 million dollars for spinal cord research and education for healthcare professionals.  Their financial support helped build two of the most prestigious spinal research facilities in the county: the Yale Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research at Yale University, and James J. Peters Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Bronx, NY.

The United Spinal Association’s website is a treasure chest of timely and vital information about all topics and issues concerning “Living Well with a Disability.” They want you to know you are not alone with your disability – you too can live a productive and fulfilling life.

For more information on the United Spinal Association, please visit their website.

By Kristin Sullivan

At Rittenhouse Senior Living of Reading (Pennsylvania), residents wanted to do something to help soldiers serving overseas. They started off by collecting items that the soldiers might need and packing them to send them overseas.

Then, resident Pearl Webb, 86, had another idea. She’s had plenty of experience with soldiers; she joined the Navy WAVES in 1943, married her husband, Robert, a WWII serviceman, in 1945; and now has a grandson, 22-year-old Army Sgt. Benjamin Potteiger, serving in Iraq. She knew that sometimes, a personal touch makes a bigger difference for soldiers far from home than simply receiving necessities.

So she founded a knitting group at Rittenhouse, and several fellow residents, ranging in age from 78 to 97, jumped in to help. They began to knit hats and scarves in camouflage colors, knowing that the items would have a double purpose: They could be wet during the day and worn to keep cool in the hot desert sun, or they could also be used dry to keep warm during the cool desert nights. Because of the color scheme, the items were also appropriate for combat.

“The residents were obviously busy with their hands and minds knowing that they were using their talents to help others – particularly the soldiers,” says Ann Barlet, the community’s director of marketing. “This also became a social time for these residents.  In addition, it became intergenerational when they taught younger girls how to knit the scarves and hats.  Also, a soldier wrote a thank you letter to the residents.  We are hoping that when the soldier returns, he will come here to talk with us and tell us how they used the hats and scarves.”

Five knitters have thus far made 55 scarves and 100 hats, and another four people helped pack the items up for shipping, Barlet says.

Says Webb, “It does your heart good.”

For more information, please visit the Rittenhouse Senior Living website.