by Julie Theado | Dec 20, 2023 | Uncategorized
By Kristin Glasure, FAIRHOPE President and CEO
Establishing boundaries defines what you are willing to do, how you want to be treated, and how you want people to behave around you. Establishing your expectations is your strong hopes or principles that a certain event will occur or that you will obtain the desired outcome.
It’s important for everyone to understand the power and need of setting boundaries, but it is especially critical for caregivers. It helps prevent burnout and additional stress. It permits you to ask for help. No one can do it all, and protecting your well-being while caring for a loved one is equally important.
Caregivers, ask yourself a few critical questions:
- When was the last time you got a full eight hours of sleep?
- When was the last time to ate a healthy meal?
- When was the last time you asked for help without feeling guilty?
If you struggled to answer these questions, it is time to consider your own needs and set boundaries. Being a caregiver doesn’t mean you need to skip out on life. Caregivers deserve to have hobbies, get enough sleep, and exercise. Boundaries can help meet the caregiver’s needs.
That leads us to – how to set boundaries. A good first step is to connect with peers who can help. Or you can communicate your boundaries to your family or friends.
Wherever you are on the caregiving spectrum, it is important to remember boundaries are not cruel but critical and expectations are not meaningless but meaningful. When put in any situation where you may need boundaries remember:
- The power of saying no.
- Catch stress early.
- Communicate.
- Get support when needed.
- Feel your emotions.
- Set realistic boundaries for your expectations or goals.
We understand setting boundaries can be difficult for some and easy for others. We also understand every situation is different, but everyone deserves to avoid burnout physically and mentally and have their boundaries respected. When in doubt take a step back and evaluate if you need to set boundaries or respect boundaries. Do not miss our last blog in our Methods to Reduce or Prevent Caregiver Stress article on making legal and financial plans!
by Julie Theado | Nov 28, 2023 | Uncategorized
LANCASTER, Ohio — FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. is celebrating Hospice and Palliative Care Month this November. To thank the community, FAIRHOPE has placed umbrellas around Fairfield County to use and borrow.
“We are grateful to be part of such an extraordinary community that always supports us,” said Kristin Glasure, FAIRHOPE President/CEO. “We wanted to do something impactful and unique for our community as a thank you for their endless support!”
You can find the umbrella pickup and drop-offs at these Fairfield, Hocking and Perry County locations:
Amanda:
Baltimore:
Canal Winchester:
Pickerington:
Downtown Lancaster:
Logan:
New Lexington:
Bremen:
Carroll:
- Fairfield Health Professionals of Carroll
by Julie Theado | Nov 28, 2023 | Uncategorized
By Kristin Glasure, FAIRHOPE President and CEO
Becoming a caregiver often happens by default by taking care of a loved one who needs more help than they used to. Whether you are helping your grandfather clean his house or your mother with daily care, you may not feel equipped for this new role. We understand this can be overwhelming and it is okay and normal to feel unprepared. In this article, we are going to help ease the transformation with some guidance in becoming an educated caregiver.
By becoming an educated caregiver, we do not mean you need to take courses to become a doctor or nurse. Simply, it is educating yourself and the caregiver team (which can be families, friends, neighbors, or anyone you trust) on the diagnoses and rehabilitation of your family member/s.
Here are our suggestions for becoming an educated caregiver:
- Go to your loved one’s doctor appointments to get familiar with the diagnosis and ask questions.
- Seek organizations or non-profits related to your loved one’s specific diagnosis for support and resources.
- Visit websites with available information, such as:
- Alzheimer Association Local Chapters– alz.org
- Parkinson Disease Association– apdaparkinson.org
- Lewy Body Dementia– lbda.org
- The Association for Frontotemporal Dementia– theaftd.org.
- Visit the community resource finder tool at org to find local education programs, workshops and support groups that can help you learn caregiving techniques.
- If you feel it is necessary, take an online training course. There is a free online course through Coursera at org/learn/dementia-care.
There are several ways to become educated in caregiving. Our goal is to help you ease into this new role. Remember everyone learns differently and every situation is different. Stay tuned for our next blog on setting healthy boundaries and expectations.
by Julie Theado | Nov 27, 2023 | Uncategorized
FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. will host their 27th Annual Celebration of Life Tree of Remembrance lighting in person on Wednesday, December 13 starting at 5 p.m. at the FAIRHOPE Pickering House, 282 Sells Road, Lancaster.
The tree’s orna
ments and donations are in honor of loved ones during the holiday season and benefit the FAIRHOPE Hospice Memorial Fund. The Tree of Remembrance provides a time to reflect and celebrate and at the same time, helps others who come to FAIRHOPE seeking care. Ornaments come in the shapes of an angel, cross, or heart and will be available for purchase in remembrance of loved ones.
“We understand remembering loved ones this time of year can be difficult,” said Kristin Glasure, President & CEO of FAIRHOPE. “The main reason we offer this special tradition is to allow people to celebrate and remember the many cherished memories and traditions they have made over the years with families and friends in their memory. We’re also grateful that this beloved event is returning to in-person for the first time since 2019.”
Memorial ornaments are available with a $15 or more donation and ornaments not shipped immediately will be displayed on the tree through December 31, 2023. To reserve your ornament, please order online at: https://fairhopehospice.org/donation-page/.
by Julie Theado | Nov 9, 2023 | Uncategorized
LANCASTER, Ohio (November 9, 2023) — 
Seth White, LNHA, recently joined FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care as vice president. Prior to joining FAIRHOPE, White served as the associate executive director at Friendship Village of Dublin. In his role, he supported all operations of the organization with a heavy focus on the licensed care areas. He has a varied background in healthcare operations including in assisted living and post-acute skilled nursing facilities.
As vice president at FAIRHOPE, he will work closely with President and CEO Kristin Glasure, the board of trustees and the entire staff to ensure the vision and mission of the organization continues to grow while providing compassionate end-of-life care.
“I’m a second-generation healthcare administrator who had the fortune to recognize my passion for serving seniors and helping others at an early age through the work of my father,” said Seth White, vice president of FAIRHOPE.
White graduated from Ohio University with a degree in long-term health care administration with a certificate in gerontology. He also obtained a licensed nursing home administrator (LNHA) designation.
“We are thrilled to have Seth join our team,” said Kristin Glasure, President & CEO of FAIRHOPE. “He brings a unique skill set that complements FAIRHOPE’s strengths while also looking at new opportunities for growth. We look forward to Seth meeting our wonderful community members, patients and families.”
White resides in Logan with his wife, Kristy, and daughter.
by Julie Theado | Oct 30, 2023 | Uncategorized
By Kristin Glasure, FAIRHOPE President and CEO
This month we are covering respite care, this service provides a primary caregiver a temporary break from the demands of caring for a sick, elderly or disabled family member. Respite care can be provided at home, daycare facilities, or residential or nursing institutions with overnight or weekend accommodations.
What are some benefits of using respite care? It provides time to recharge, take a trip, visit relatives or schedule appointments. Caregiving is a full-time job, so a temporary break can help reduce stress and fatigue. While also getting a temporary break, it helps to have peace of mind having certified care or help, taking care of your loved one while you recuperate. It is healthy and crucial for individuals to keep their sense of identity outside of the constant responsibilities of caregiving.
Let’s break down the process with steps and trusted resources.
Facilities that provide options for respite stays in Fairfield County:
- The Pickering House – 740-654-7077
- Synergy Home Care – 625-965-6760
- First Light Home Care – 740-322-6000
- Carroll Place – 740-654-4529
- Primrose – 740-653-3900
Facilities that provide options for respite stays in Perry County:
- The Pickering House – 740-654-7077
Facilities that provide options for respite stays in Hocking County:
- The Pickering House – 740-654-7077
How to schedule brief respite during the day/week:
You can schedule brief respite care within daycare, day camps, assisted living, nursing homes or in-home services. Respite care can also look different ways, such as:
- Volunteers- This may be available with faith-based, community, and other nonprofit organizations in and out of the community.
- Trained staff- Can come from home-care businesses that are available to cover short periods of time in and out of the home.
- Personal care providers- Can assist with daily living skills such as bathing, dressing, or feeding, which can be done in the home. This can also be an option for trusted family and friends to assist.
- Homemaker services- This is the support of meal preparation, shopping and housekeeping, which can also be an option for trusted family and friends to assist.
Respite care options on the ability to pay:
Assisted living facilities will typically cost more than adult day care programs. Most insurance plans won’t cover the cost of respite care. However, there are resources you can turn to for assistance. Such as a Medicaid Waiver Program, VA pension (you might qualify for a benefit called Aid and Attendance), long-term care insurance (call your insurance company and check) and adult services, especially those offered by community-based senior centers, nonprofit organizations, or churches, have sliding scale payment options.
Remember, respite care is available at our Pickering House for any of our hospice and palliative care patients and families without an additional cost. We’re happy to discuss options that may work best for your loved ones.
Our goal is to inform and educate those on respite care. Please remember that everyone deserves a break from an ongoing duty, and this is not selfish – this is self-care and beneficial for the caregiver and loved one. Stay tuned for our next blog on becoming an educated caregiver.
