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Holidays - Hospice: A match well made
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| Hospice nurse Jay Keller shows a map that has the locations of the 88 Hospice offices in Iowa on it. |
By Deb Kunkle
OELWEIN – November is Hospice Month and according to Hospice volunteers, there is no better time to give thanks for those who help others through difficult, life-changing times than now, as the holiday season begins.
The philosophy of hospice care is to provide expert and compassionate physical, emotional and spiritual support for those who are dying and their families.
“An expectant mother wouldn’t think about having a baby without prenatal classes and support. Similarly, a terminally ill person and family shouldn’t have to think about the end of life alone,” said Anne Wagner, Iowa Hospice care consultant.
“A family can gain so much from our services and support,” she said about Iowa Hospice, which operates offices and staff in 88 of Iowa’s 99 counties. The service area includes all of northeast and eastern Iowa.
Wagner explained that Iowa Hospice services include nursing visits at least two times each week, aide to help with personal cares or housekeeping, counseling, assistance with obtaining resources, massage therapy, music therapy, medical equipment and supplies, speech or physical therapy, payment for medications, volunteers to assist with needs and grief services.
Wagner said the best part is the services are covered by Medicare and most insurance policies. Iowa Hospice does not charge the patient or family for any services. She said many people are eligible for hospice but are unaware they could benefit from the services.
Who is Eligible?
Individuals with a life-limiting or terminal illness are eligible with consent of their physician, or if they have decided to no longer seek aggressive, curative treatments, but rather comfort and quality of life. Hospice is for anyone with a limited life expectancy or terminal illness. In addition to cancer patients, those with AIDS, heart disease, lung disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Alzheimer’s, general debility and other illnesses can benefit from hospice care and support staff.
While people don’t like to think about a loved one dying, it is important to know there are nurses and support staff out there to help them get through those times.
Former Oelwein resident Jay Keller, now of Cedar Falls, is a hospice nurse for Iowa Hospice. Drawing from personal experience, Keller took a career path to nursing shortly after the death of his first wife Carol Cumberledge Keller from cancer in December 1999.
After receiving his registered nursing degree, Keller first worked in ICU at Allen Hospital, then in the orthopedic unit for five months, followed by 18 months as campus nurse at Bremwood in Waverly and then as a nurse at Cedar Falls Health Care Center.
“My nursing experiences have led me here and I feel like God has directed me to what I’m doing now,” Keller said in a recent interview.
Keller explained Iowa Hospice as a “Radical Loving Care Program” that envelops the patient and loved ones in care and support. He said the medical director is the patient’s physician and everyone works with the doctor to provide the best possible level of care and comfort.
“Each member of the team from the social worker to the massage and music therapist, nurses, health aides, volunteers and grief counselors brings a specialty of care to our team,” Keller said. “It’s love in action.”
He said some families are very private and he admitted that an end of a person’s life is often felt as a very personal time few wish to share with outsiders. Keller said he has seen too many cases where the family waited a long time to call hospice for support they could have been getting.
“We aren’t intruders in a family’s privacy. That’s why we wait to be asked into a family’s life when they call us. But we can answer all kinds of questions that people may have about their loved one. The dying process is difficult for the patient and those nearby, but hospice can make a difference,” Keller said. He added that families often wait to call hospice because they are in denial.
“We are very big on love and support,” he said.
While some may find Keller’s profession a job with no rewards, he quickly responded that his job has many rewards.
“I like what I’m doing and feel I’m helping families when they need it the most. I often run into former patients’ family members and they smile when they see me. That lets me know I have done my job well. That’s my reward,” he said.
Keller and Wagner said Iowa Hospice is the largest of hospice providers in the state. Persons can call toll-free to 866-752-4692 to find out more about services or becoming a volunteer, or look them up on the Web site www.iowa-hospice.com
With Iowa Hospice, “although there may not be a cure, there can always be healing.”
The philosophy of hospice care is to provide expert and compassionate physical, emotional and spiritual support for those who are dying and their families.
“An expectant mother wouldn’t think about having a baby without prenatal classes and support. Similarly, a terminally ill person and family shouldn’t have to think about the end of life alone,” said Anne Wagner, Iowa Hospice care consultant.
“A family can gain so much from our services and support,” she said about Iowa Hospice, which operates offices and staff in 88 of Iowa’s 99 counties. The service area includes all of northeast and eastern Iowa.
Wagner explained that Iowa Hospice services include nursing visits at least two times each week, aide to help with personal cares or housekeeping, counseling, assistance with obtaining resources, massage therapy, music therapy, medical equipment and supplies, speech or physical therapy, payment for medications, volunteers to assist with needs and grief services.
Wagner said the best part is the services are covered by Medicare and most insurance policies. Iowa Hospice does not charge the patient or family for any services. She said many people are eligible for hospice but are unaware they could benefit from the services.
Who is Eligible?
Individuals with a life-limiting or terminal illness are eligible with consent of their physician, or if they have decided to no longer seek aggressive, curative treatments, but rather comfort and quality of life. Hospice is for anyone with a limited life expectancy or terminal illness. In addition to cancer patients, those with AIDS, heart disease, lung disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Alzheimer’s, general debility and other illnesses can benefit from hospice care and support staff.
While people don’t like to think about a loved one dying, it is important to know there are nurses and support staff out there to help them get through those times.
Former Oelwein resident Jay Keller, now of Cedar Falls, is a hospice nurse for Iowa Hospice. Drawing from personal experience, Keller took a career path to nursing shortly after the death of his first wife Carol Cumberledge Keller from cancer in December 1999.
After receiving his registered nursing degree, Keller first worked in ICU at Allen Hospital, then in the orthopedic unit for five months, followed by 18 months as campus nurse at Bremwood in Waverly and then as a nurse at Cedar Falls Health Care Center.
“My nursing experiences have led me here and I feel like God has directed me to what I’m doing now,” Keller said in a recent interview.
Keller explained Iowa Hospice as a “Radical Loving Care Program” that envelops the patient and loved ones in care and support. He said the medical director is the patient’s physician and everyone works with the doctor to provide the best possible level of care and comfort.
“Each member of the team from the social worker to the massage and music therapist, nurses, health aides, volunteers and grief counselors brings a specialty of care to our team,” Keller said. “It’s love in action.”
He said some families are very private and he admitted that an end of a person’s life is often felt as a very personal time few wish to share with outsiders. Keller said he has seen too many cases where the family waited a long time to call hospice for support they could have been getting.
“We aren’t intruders in a family’s privacy. That’s why we wait to be asked into a family’s life when they call us. But we can answer all kinds of questions that people may have about their loved one. The dying process is difficult for the patient and those nearby, but hospice can make a difference,” Keller said. He added that families often wait to call hospice because they are in denial.
“We are very big on love and support,” he said.
While some may find Keller’s profession a job with no rewards, he quickly responded that his job has many rewards.
“I like what I’m doing and feel I’m helping families when they need it the most. I often run into former patients’ family members and they smile when they see me. That lets me know I have done my job well. That’s my reward,” he said.
Keller and Wagner said Iowa Hospice is the largest of hospice providers in the state. Persons can call toll-free to 866-752-4692 to find out more about services or becoming a volunteer, or look them up on the Web site www.iowa-hospice.com
With Iowa Hospice, “although there may not be a cure, there can always be healing.”
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