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Acknowledge Turning Over a New Leaf
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Penelope "wasn’t acting right" and EMS transported her to the emergency department. Her distraught daughter, Lynn,
arrived within minutes and scrambled to find the notebook listing her elderly mother’s vital signs over the past several days.
Penelope had stopped chemotherapy for multiple myeloma and was being treated for a recent urinary tract infection (UTI). She did not understand why people were making a fuss over her. She appeared more content than confused to the ED physician. He wondered if admitting her to
the hospital would be in her best interest. Was it appropriate to talk to her daughter about doing less or proceed with the standard workup for evaluating patients with altered mental status?
Lynn breathed a sigh of relief at the mention of offering her mother palliative care. She had raised this question four days earlier with Penelope’s primary care physician when the UTI was first diagnosed.
Lynn was shamed into believing it was too soon to discuss options about end-of-life care. If not then, when? Is the right time to bring up this subject after the patient’s admission to the ICU?
This might be the best time to turn over a new leaf - acting in your patient’s best interest rather than following protocol - emergency department.
The following steps acknowledge
turning over a new leaf:
How Much Is Your Health
Worth to
You?
The news magazine, The Nation, printed this article and posed another consideration for advance care planning – how much money would you spend to stay alive? Most people believe life’s precious and insist health insurers pay the ransom that drug companies are charging. On a human level, many people place a dollar value on life based on the amount of life insurance they can afford.
If experimental treatments were paid for by patients cashing in their life insurance policies, good conscience would prevail. If saving your life meant depriving your survivors, would you pay this price? Would drug companies prefer your children be destitute? Is paying for premium healthcare going to make America pay the ultimate price of
bankruptcy?
Advance care planning is needed for you to decide who pays.
October 17, 2017Noon - 2:00amAlzheimer's and Dementia - Phoenix
Church of the Beatitudes
555 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85021
November 2, 2017
10:00 - 11:30amPalliative and Hospice Care
Grace Bible Church 19280 N 99th Ave, Sun City, AZ 85373
Is Palliative Care Right For YOU?
by Kevin J. Haselhorst, MD The key to making medical decisions
is understanding palliative care:
Palliative Care is the
bridge between
advance care
and end-of-life
care.
When you no longer have your health,
how will you spend your time and money?
Is quality of life more important than
staying alive at any cost?
This booklet will teach you: - What palliative care means in practical terms
- The value of making your own medical decisions
- How to gain peace of mind with chronic
illness
Command respect during your next
doctor visit by saying,
"I receive palliative care."
Learn more at KevinHaselhorst.com
#VegasStrong
Driving into Las Vegas felt like visiting a mortuary – paying my last respects to the victims of the recent mass shooting and offering condolences to the survivors. Yet, the Strip was electrifying and filled with hundreds of tourists. Seemingly, what happens in Vegas is forgotten next week. Like a punching bag, the people of Las Vegas can teach the world about rebounding and
resilience.
Joining my friend, Rich, and hanging out with my family at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar reminds me that bringing people together is a good thing. A family crisis often
encourages one another to get along and resolve disagreements – not remaining defiant. With Las Vegas being a major gun hub for enthusiasts, perhaps a beer summit between people who support the right to bear arms and those who have a right to life could actually transform #VegasStrong from a slogan to
fruition.
#TributeTuesday
Share a tribute to a loved one who has died, or to mark the anniversary of their death.
From October 10th: #TributeTuesday: Like Martha Stewart, Martha Henrichs taught others the art of homemaking. She reigns in heaven as a professor
emeritus.
#WishfulWednesdayHave a wish for the weekend? Post your plan on Wednesday. Practice expressing end-of-life wishes during the prime of
life. From October 4th: #WishfulWednesday: Make plans midweek for the end of week. I prefer assault weapons be banned from ruining "what happens in Vegas."
How to Approach Living While
Dying
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Living While Dying
"Living while
dying" is a new concept for most people. It’s also the name of a new film that’s being released by my friend, Cathy Zheutlin. She has asked me to be an advisor on the project. My opinion, like your opinion matters in life and death.
As Cathy explores the reality of her loved ones facing death, she turns the camera around and looks at herself.
How will she approach living
while dying?
The end result of the film is to have viewers ponder and pick their own rite of passage.
Please support this film that makes "living while dying" easier for everyone to engage.
Help spread the word about
this Generosity fundraiser! UPDATE
Immense Possibilities is a weekly public TV
and internet series that featured an interview with Cathy Zheutlin about Living While Dying.
Watch the interview: (10 minutes)
Watch on Vimeo
Cathy needs to raise more money for the music, the sound mix and the color corrections.
Please help get the word out to others you think
might want to back this project!
Only have time for 24 seconds?
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