Denton County Living Well Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 18

Finding the Support You Need
By Sherry Little

N

early everyone knows someone who’s struggled to
cope with advanced, complex or complicated illness. Medical science has increased the likelihood
that we will experience a long-term complicated or chronic
illness during our later years, and this presents significant
challenges to individuals, their families and the health care
professionals who care for them.
Because of our belief that everyone deserves the very
best outcomes at all stages of illness, Home Hospice initiated a program called Pathways to help people achieve the
best possible outcomes, determine their own goals for their
care, communicate with their physicians and other providers, discover resources that are available to them, and plan
with their loved ones what their care might look like as
needs increase. Pathways Palliative Care is a program of
supportive services coordinated by JoCarolyn Chambers,
LCSW, who works alongside Ron Van Buskirk, M.D, a palliative care certified physician, and Vickie Putman, RN. The
program is funded by several organizations in our community that recognized the value to those who are navigating a
very complicated healthcare system, seeking treatment for
advanced illness and desiring increased ability to live independently while receiving the optimum care.

Some of the support provided by the Pathways staff includes:

• Help to understand complicated medical circumstances
• Help with consideration of options and thinking through difficult
decisions
• Help to improve symptoms including physical pain, shortness of
breath, nausea, and more
• Help to decrease emotional pain, depression and anxiety
• Help in coping with transitions through stages of illness
• Help for identifying goals for care and planning for the future
• Help in making your wishes known, understood and honored

The Pathways team will communicate with your physician while providing these supportive services and consultations to you and your family––in your home, care facility
or hospital. Together you and your team will work to meet
your physical, spiritual and emotional goals.
For more information on Pathways Palliative Care,
visit www.homehospice.org/pathways-palliative-careprogram. As with all services provided by Home Hospice,
Pathways is provided to all regardless of ability to pay. To
schedule a Pathways consult or for more information, call
903-820-9753.

During times like these, there is so much uncertainty;
it is a real blessing that Home Hospice is available to
offer help and guidance. It takes such special people
to provide the service and level of care that is needed
for the patients and families. Thank you all for the
wonderful job you do in caring for and loving others.
- Tammy Randles
daughter of Bobby Armstrong

Ask for
Home Hospice
by name.
Call us. We’ll be right there.

Your nonprofit hospice
governed by local leaders

316 S. Chestnut • Gainesville, Texas • 940.665.9891 • www.hom ehos pice.org
16

Denton County Living Well Magazine • Spring 2014