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Funeral Director Fatigue Syndrome

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Balance work with life.

Are you a funeral director, or do you know one who seems cynical, who is lacking in energy and who seems depressed at times? One of the lessons that I learned as an alcoholism and drug counselor is that the “helpers often need help.” The reason behind this adage is the company that caregivers keep — a funeral home is a business, but that business can cause burnout as well.

What are the signs of this burnout, or funeral director fatigue syndrome? Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt outlines this syndrome in his book, Funeral Home Customer Service A-Z: Creating Exceptional Experiences for Today’s Families. His list of symptoms are based upon psychologist Christina Maslach’s signs of burnout, and he poses the symptoms as a list of questions in a survey:

Do you generally feel fatigued and lacking in energy?
Are you getting irritable, impatient and angry with people around you (home and/or work)?
Do you feel cynical toward and detached from the families you serve?
Do you suffer from mroe than your share of physical complaints, such as headaches, stomachaches, backaches and long-lasting cols?
Do you generally feel depressed or notice sudden fluctuations in your moods?
do you feel busy, yet have a sense that you don’t accomplish much at all?
Do you have difficulty concentrating or remembering?
Do you think you have to be the one to help all bereaved families that come through your door?
Do you feel less of a sense of satisfaction about your helping efforts than you have in the past?
Do you feel that you just don’t have anything more to give?

According to Dr. Wolfelt, if you answered “yes” to 2-4 of those questions, you may be in the early phases of funeral director fatigue syndrome. If you answered “yes” to 5-7 questions, you are moving quickly into the direction of total fatique. if you answered “yes” to eight or more questions, you are, without a doubt, burned out!

Unfortunately, Dr. Wolfelt does not provide a solution to this problem. But, you can read more about this issue at Caregiver Burnout, an article at Caregiver.com. Some of their strategies for dealing with burnout include staying fit, consulting with other professionals and pampering yourself on occasion.

The thing to remember is that you may not recognize that you are in the grips of burnout until it’s too late. Be open to what others say to you, especially if you know that person is someone who cares about your and your well being.

Tags: Funeral director, Funeral Director Fatigue Syndrome
Posted in Caregivers, Deathcare Careers | No Comments »

Aging in Stride

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Caregivers take note...

Caregivers and relatives of the elderly might be interested in a publication and Web site offered by Aging in Stride. The book is geared toward a wide range of seniors, including people in their 70s and older, as well as Baby Boomers who are using it as they care for aging parents, and as they themselves enter their senior years. The book, published by IlluminAge Communication Partners, a division of Caresource Healthcare Communications, Inc., offers the following information:

45 aging issues discussed clearly and honestly
Strategies to help you plan ahead and make smart choices
Forms to help you get organized and stay on track
Access to more resources online and in your community
Online reader support center for extra copies of forms and direct click-through to online resources.

The site also offers information that is free for anyone who wants to know about emergency readiness for older adults and caregivers, information about how to improve your life as you age and information about laying a foundation for health and happiness in your retirement years. The site includes the ability to sign up for an eNewsletter along with free forms for information and courses.

For example, they states that although seniors made up only 15 percent of the population of New Orleans before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, according to Knight Ridder, 74 percent of the hurricane victims were older adults. These events served as a grim reminder that older adults are disproportionately at risk in disaster situations, and emergency preparation is an even greater concern for this population.

The U.S. Administration on Aging’s National Family Caregiver Support Program and Caresource Healthcare Communications, Inc. are pleased to announce the new consumer guide Just in Case: Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and Caregivers. This free consumer resource includes a 12-page fact sheet and checklist that will help older adults and caregivers prepare for emergencies. Special emphasis is placed on issues that affect older adults, disabled persons, and their caregivers due to medical conditions, physical challenges, assistive devices, and mobility issues. Just in Case presents an easy-to-do three step approach to emergency preparedness:

Step 1 focuses on a handful of essential things a person should know
Step 2 covers emergency supplies, both for surviving at home and for evacuation if necessary
Step 3 is creating a personal plan that takes into account a person’s own unique medical and physical needs.

“Just in Case” is a supplement to Aging in Stride. The new supplement is available as a free consumer resource online at the Aging in Stride website www.aginginstride.org or on the Administration on Aging’s website www.aoa.gov. Purchasers of the book Aging in Stride will also receive a complementary hard copy with their purchase. Aging in Stride is available for $24.95 plus shipping and handling at www.aginginstride.org or by calling 800-448-5213.

Tags: Caregivers, eldercare
Posted in Caregivers, Hospice | No Comments »

Peace of Mind for the Holidays

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Volunteer this holiday season -- spread the cheer!

Do you want to feel good about yourself this holiday season? One way to eliminate some stress over the upcoming holidays is to help others, especially the elderly. The AARP recently announced some startling statistics that may motivate you:

9.9 million seniors age 55 and older lived in poverty before the economic crisis (SOURCE: AARP Public Policy Institute).
52 percent of older Americans had difficulty paying for essential items such as food, gas, and medicine the past year (SOURCE: January 2009 AARP Survey — A Year-End Look at the Economic Slowdown’s Impact on Middle-Aged and Older Americans).
57 percent of seniors expect to delay their retirement and work longer due to retirement losses (SOURCE: January 2009 AARP Survey — A Year-End Look at the Economic Slowdown’s Impact on Middle-Aged and Older Americans).

If you are not elderly, one day you will be — if you live long enough. Think of providing a gift to a senior as karma, as in “what goes around comes around.” While a small gift of food might help, you also can stay aloof and let others handle the process. AARP, for instance, offers one way to give through their annual fund drive. This gift is tax deductible. You also can use Charity Navigator to find a charity that suits your idea of what giving means to you.

If you don’t have two pennies to rub together yourself, you can work a soup kitchen or offer to deliver meals over the holidays. At least you may get a chance to eat a meal, as volunteers often get fed. Consider volunteering at a local homeless shelter, nursing home, hospice or hospital. Some groups you can check with to learn more about local volunteerism include:

Holiday Project: The Mission of The Holiday Project is to enrich the experience of the holidays by arranging visits to people confined to nursing homes, hospitals and other institutions. Use this site to learn more about projects in your area.
VolunteerMatch: VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect, as this is a recruiting tool for nonprofit organizations. Enter your zip code and skills into the site and they can help you get matched up with a need for volunteers in your region.
Servenet.org: Since its inception, servenet.org has enabled millions of youth volunteers to connect with local nonprofits to make a difference in communities throughout America. But, you don’t need to be a spring chicken to help out with this organization. They will welcome people of all ages and abilities.

Volunteer this holiday season to help others and to help yourself. When you’re occupied with helping someone else, your troubles may diminish. Additionally, you may learn more about your neighborhood. Who knows? You may even find a new calling (or a new job) as a caregiver by offering your help. If nothing else, you could feel better (as in less stressed) and you will meet new people who can help you spread a that holiday cheer just a bit further.

Tags: elderly, holidays, volunteerism
Posted in Caregivers | No Comments »

Choosing a Nursing Home

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

walker

If you are thinking about a nursing home for yourself or for a loved one, you might realize that this choice is both difficult and painful. Giving up a home to move in with others represents a loss of liberty to some individuals. But, to others, it may represent the beginning of a whole new life.

We’ve listed a few tips on how to choose a nursing home, along with more tips on what to ask when you visit.

Plan in advance. Do your investigation long before you may think you need a home, as it may take some time to visit these homes and to make a decision.
Get recommendations. You also may need help in filling out the various forms that nursing homes require.
Do not visit a nursing home alone. It may prove too difficult, and a friend or relative may help by asking questions that you may forget to ask.
Be open-minded. Accept that no nursing home is perfect, and that other people may provide care differently than you do. If you have a negative visit on one day, return on a different day to see if matters are different. Revisit those nursing homes you initially rejected for nonessential reasons.
Pick a convenient location first. A nursing home that is convenient and close at hand will be easier for you to visit.
Observe the buildings and staff. Is the building clean and relatively odor-free, well lit and attractive? Are safety features such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors obvious and in good order?
Observe the patients or clients: Do they seem satisfied, if not happy? Are they well dressed, or sloppy in appearance (hair not combed, etc.). Does it appear that these clients are tended with care?

Questions and Observations:

Look at size. Larger nursing homes may be surprisingly less expensive yet offer more activities and services.
Check about medical services. Are the costs included? Are visits from personal physicians allowed? Is a registered nurse on the premises at all times, and is a doctor in-house or on call? Is the nursing home close to a hospital if needed?
Ask about residential services. Is there a special unit for patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease? Is patient variety important, or would you or your loved one prefer to live with residents from similar ethnic or religious backgrounds?
Ask about admission. Is there a waiting list? Can you fill out forms in advance? Is a physical examination required for admission, and who should conduct that exam?
Ask about financing. This is especially important if a nursing home is an immediate need. Is that home eligible for Medicare and/or Medicaid? What services are included in the cost, and what services cost extra?
Ask about food. Is a dietitian on staff and are the portions big enough? Is the food good and good for you? Is there help for individuals who may have trouble eating?
Ask about activities. Does the home provide activities for clients who can participate?
Ask about the living facilities. Can the client bring personal furniture, pictures, plants or other objects? Is there a closet and chest of drawers and privacy for dressing? Is there an available phone? How many people reside in one room?

You can visit the Medicare site, where they offer ideas about how to choose a nursing home. If the home you choose has a Web site, look the site over before you visit. The Web site may answer some questions above, so all you need to do on your visit is to confirm that the Web site was correct.

Tags: Medicaid, Medicare, nursing home
Posted in Caregivers, Patients | No Comments »

Symptom Relief for Terminal Illness

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Caring for a loved one.

If you are a caregiver, you may have had training in symptom relief for terminally ill patients. But, many family members now take care of their loved ones at home, and training may come through experience only. If you are one of those latter individuals, spend some time at the library, as many books about caregiving can be found on the book shelves. Also, calls to local hospice organizations or training programs offered by hospitals can help provide information as well.

Some basic information about symptom relief is listed below, and these solutions apply to any person at any age — even if they do not have a terminal illness. These problems may frighten a caregiver at first, but they are common problems, and solutions are available. Remember to rely on a trained hospice worker, a trusted nurse or a doctor for specific directions for your ‘patient’ before you take extreme measures.

Constipation: This is a common problem during the last stages of terminal illness, because the patient may not be physically active. Some solutions include increasing fiber in the diet with foods such as prune juice and bran cereal. Sufficient fluids also help to resolve the problem in many instances. Only give stool softeners or laxatives as a doctor may recommend. He or she may recommend them, as constipation can be a side effect of some medications. The warning sign for severe problems – one that warrants a call to the doctor – is constipation for more than three days or blood in the stool.

Eating and Drinking: Smaller and more frequent meals may resolve the eating problem. Some physical activity, if the patient can tolerate it, also helps stimulate appetite. Fluids are, sometimes, the most important issue. Dehydration can develop rapidly in people who do not drink enough fluids. Use a straw or offer ice chips to suck. Be aware that too many fluids also are dangerous and providing intravenous fluids to a person who is dying may result in respiratory distress. Follow a doctor’s instructions on how much food and fluid is ‘normal’ for your patient’s situation.

Breathing Problems: Breathing problems can occur during the final stage of any illness and may require oxygen. Another way to help open breathing passages is to elevate the head of the patient’s bed or to move the patient to a recliner. A doctor may prescribe small doses of liquid morphine or bronchodilator drugs. Follow orders for these prescriptions carefully. Opening a window on a mild day or running a fan in the patient’s room also can help improve air circulation.

Nausea and Vomiting: This problem may occur as a side effect of some medications or as a result of the disease. Do not force a nauseated person to eat. Use ice chips instead of drinking to help retain body fluids. Overt vomiting is an issue, however, as the patient may not be able to keep down medication. A doctor may order medication in suppository form if the patient continues to be nauseated.

Dry Mouth: A dry mouth can be caused by medication or by the disease or by a lack of fluids. Go by the doctor’s advice on the amount of fluids to provide, and if the patient continues to have dry mouth, contact the doctor. You may need to provide glycerin swabs or artificial saliva for the inside of the mouth and a lit coating of lip balm for dry or cracked lips.

Itching: Dry skin, a new reaction to a laundry product, medications or the disease may cause rashes, dry skin and discomfort. To stop the itching, you can apply a soothing skin cream (alcohol-free, as alcohol-based products can further dry the skin) or calamine lotion to itchy areas. Cornstarch, baking soda or baby powder may work, too. Use a humidifier during the fall and winter when heat is used to help moisten the air. You may need to experiment if none of this solutions work. Change laundry detergent or avoid dryer sheets to see if those solutions help.

Tags: at-home care, caregiver, Hospice, Terminal illness
Posted in Caregivers, Hospice, Hospice Basics, Patients | No Comments »

Depression, the Elderly and the Holidays

Monday, November 16th, 2009

A short visit to elderly neighbors can brighten everyone's holiday.

If you are gathering steam to celebrate the holidays in grand style, you might consider visiting a neighbor or two in those plans. A visit to an elderly person, especially, during the holidays can lift everyone’s spirits well as provide the elderly person with a reason to avoid feeling isolated and depressed. These feelings often are more pronounced during traditional holiday festivities, especially if that elder has few social connections or family ties.

Older people who are at high risk for depression are those who are ill or disabled or who lack social contact and support. While few people would expect a neighbor to become involved with early signs of depression, a watchful eye on some obvious symptoms may help save an otherwise healthy elder from suicidal thoughts or actions. While you are not expected to become a caretaker in these situations, you might be surprised at how a relationship with your elderly neighbor can enhance your own life.

You can watch for the following symptoms of depression, which may include feelings of guilt or apathy, loss of self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite, weight loss or weight gain, difficulty sleeping, loss of interest in favorite activities and a pervasive feeling of sadness. It is easier to recognize these feelings in a loved one who is close to the family, but even neighbors can get a glimpse into an elder’s state of mind if that person mentions some of the difficulties in casual conversation. A simple mention of a lack of sleep and sloppy dress on a normally impeccable person may provide hints to a depressed state of mind.

Some people incorrectly assume that symptoms of depression in older people are a normal part of aging (as in the “Bah! Humbug!” syndrome). Others may assume that symptoms may relate to Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, however, depression can be treated successfully with a combination of medications and/or therapy. Finally, there is a tendency to see the desire for privacy or solitude as symptoms of depression – some elderly people actually like the peace and quiet afforded by their solitude and don’t want to be annoyed by constant visits. Think long and hard, therefore, about bringing your kids around to visit with you, unless your elderly neighbor knows and enjoys your company as well as your kids’ presences.

This is why, as a neighbor, it is best to let the family handle any changes in your elderly neighbor’s behaviors. At the same time, they may not see their loved one as often as you do. In cases like this, it would not be out of line to offer the family assistance. Let them know you would be happy to contact them in emergency situations or if you see changes in your elderly neighbor’s behavior. If the family turns you down, at least you have offered your assistance. And, it doesn’t hurt to offer the same assistance to the elderly person, as that individual may take you up on your offer.

The holidays can make those symptoms of depression even more pronounced, but – sometimes – when the holidays pass, so do the symptoms. All it may take to help relieve those feelings of loneliness or sadness may be a visit to help decorate a door or to provide some canned goods or simply to say “hi.” You can easily bring some huge joy to someone with little effort on your part.

Tags: caregiving, depression, holidays
Posted in Caregivers | No Comments »

Thinking About Death May Change Your Life

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Facing the reality of death may bring serenity to your life.

Have you faced the reality that, one day, you will die? If you haven’t faced this fact, don’t feel alone. Denial of death is a popular pastime in developed countries, as people don’t want to die any more than they want to pay taxes.

But, if you take the time to realize that you will die one day, your outlook on life may change and you may experience serenity. People who believe they will live forever (including many teens), often take more risks and make decisions that may take longer to resolve. The resulting chaos can be used as a means to avoid deep introspection, a skill that takes time to develop in many people.

One way to build that skill is to take life slowly and deal with situations as they arise. The person who tries to deal with situations or events that have not yet arisen and that may never arise can feel overwhelmed. This type of thinking also wears on a person’s health. Worrying about “what if” situations can become an addictive behavior, especially when an individual begins to think about his or her death.

Before you work yourself into a depression while thinking about life ending in death, think about a person who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Unfortunately, in many cases, a terminally ill person feels isolated and rightly so – the fact that many people do not want to face death in this society tends to spill over into real life as people avoid terminally ill loved ones.

But, dying is not a contagious disease. It is a fact of life. Still, many people treat death and dying with a hands-off attitude, mainly from fear. Many people equate death with pain, but physical pain can be endured or treated. Emotional pain often is the issue here. Fear of separation, fear of abandonment and fear of the unknown are real fears. These fears can be diminished by talking about them with a counselor or with your family and friends.

Alcoholics Anonymous deals with these fears in a twelve-step program [PDF] that addresses emotional issues and day-to-day activities that can prevent serenity. Since alcoholism is seen as a terminal illness among many recovering alcoholics, the individuals who seek treatment for their alcoholism (or drug abuse) can walk away with skills that can help many other people learn how to deal with life and death.*

Outside the twelve-step program, life plans also can be simplified further into four basic categories (not listed in any particular order):

Relationships with family members and friends
Job or career goals
Health issues
Spiritual questions

Taking each one of the four issues listed above, you can list obstacles that exist for you in any area within that category. Ask yourself questions such as:

Do any of my past relationships remain unresolved?
Do I have financial problems to address?
Do I exercise enough or can I eliminate foods that are not good for me?
What do I believe, and can I find support for my beliefs or do I need to change that perspective to find peace?

Although you deal with these four issues continuously throughout life, the answers to your questions may change as you age. The analogy would be like a movie you watched ten years ago or a book you read when you were younger. If you watched that movie or read that book again, you might see the content differently than you did ten years prior. AA calls this practice “taking inventory.” The average person might call it, “taking stock.” No matter what you call this personal interrogation, a constant desire to seek answers to life’s current dilemmas can help you to understand yourself and your loved ones better.

This willingness to take stock and to understand shifts in your perspective may show that you have grown emotionally, spiritually and in knowledge.

To realistically plan for your life to end one day is a practical exercise, and one that many hospices employ in their care-giving. But, if you think about the end of life now, rather than waiting for a time when you face death head-on, your willingness can present new opportunities rather than close doors. Facing the reality that life ends in death, always, may help you avoid chaos and worry and live a more peaceful life filled with satisfying relationships and goals.

*Note: Many addiction programs allow recovering addicts to replace “God” with “higher power” to help avoid resistance to recovery.

Tags: Alcoholics Anonymous, Hospice, twelve-step program
Posted in Caregivers, Death & Dying, Grief and Grieving, Hospice | No Comments »

Your Caregiver’s Bill of Rights

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Caregivers come in all genders, ages and races - and, they all have rights.

Do you provide care for elderly or terminally ill individuals? You might volunteer for a hospice or you may be tending a loved one at home. In any situation where care is provided for a person’s physical or emotional needs, the caregiver may often feel overwhelmed and need help as well.

It’s difficult to pinpoint the origin of the caregiver’s “Bill of Rights,” but one copy of the list below was discovered in the book, Care for the Caregiver, sponsored by Parke-Davis and focused on Alzheimer’s Disease. This book, published in 1994, also provided information to caregivers about the disease and the theories behind its development.

We doubt that the list below originated with that book, but the point is that the Caregiver’s Bill of Rights has been around for at least two decades. Now, it is provided to readers across the Web on various hospice and caregiver sites. Some sites advocate that caregivers also join a support group – especially adult children who care for parents – to help face grief and to deal with stress. Support always is a great idea, no matter if you’re a caregiver at home or in a hospice.

While caregivers face seemingly insurmountable obstacles at times, caregiving also can bring families and friends closer together. We hope you can use the caregiver’s Bill of Rights below to help provide a guideline for building your life in a constructive and healthy way while providing care and solace to your loved ones and patients. You have the right:

To take care of yourself. Caregiving is not an act of selfishness. It will give you the capability of taking better care of your loved one.
To seek help from others even though your loved ones may object. Only you can recognize the limits of your endurance and strength.
To maintain facets of your own life that do not include the person you care for, just as you would if he or she were healthy. You know that you do everything that you reasonably can for this person, and you have the right to do some things just for yourself.
To get angry, be depressed, and express other difficult feelings occasionally.
To reject any attempts by your loved one (either conscious or unconscious) to manipulate you through guilt, and/or depression.
To receive consideration, affection, forgiveness, and acceptance for what you do, from your loved ones, for as long as you offer these qualities in return.
To take pride in what you are accomplishing and to applaud the courage it has sometimes taken to meet the needs of your loved one.
To protect your individuality and your right to make a life for yourself that will sustain you in the time when your loved one no longer need your full-time help.
To expect and demand that as new strides are made in finding resources to aid physically- and mentally-impaired persons in our country, similar strides will be made towards aiding and supporting caregivers.

Tags: Alzheimer's disease, caregiver
Posted in Caregivers, Hospice | 1 Comment »

Tips for Taking Care of Prescriptions for Elderly

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Pills that are different colors can be helpful in organizing medications.

Are you helping to take care of an elderly person? Many older people must take several different prescription and nonprescription drugs every day. Because these drugs often are taken during different times of the day, it can become easy for an elderly person (or even a stressed younger person) to become confused about which medication to take at what time.

This confusion can create a situation where an individual may skip a dose or overdose on a particular drug. The following tips can help alleviate some of these issues and more, and can help your loved one manage his or her medications as easily as possible.

Make a list of all medications, including over-the-counter drugs, that the person is taking and keep it up to date. This list is useful both for the patient and for that patient’s doctor.
Keep a medication schedule in the form of a calendar and check off each dose as it is taken.
If the person has trouble remembering to take medications, try associating doses with specific times of day, such as breakfast, lunch and dinner, or waking up or before going to bed.
Use a divided container to prepare a person’s doses for an upcoming week. Containers designed for this purpose are inexpensive (often free) and found at local drugstores.
Be sure that the person takes his or her medications as prescribed. For instance, some medications must be taken between meals, and others must be taken with food or before eating. See #3 to help with association for these medications.
If the patient has problems digesting certain drugs, ask the doctor or pharmacist if other forms are available. In other words, a pill may be hard to swallow, but that pill may be available in liquid, too.
Use containers with easy-open lids rather than child-resistant lids to ease opening the bottle for someone who might suffer from arthritis. These easy-open lids are perfectly appropriate when children no longer reside in the house.
Never transfer drugs from one container to another unless that second container has been labeled appropriately.
When you pick up medicine from the pharmacy, read the label to make sure you understand the dosage required and when that medicine should be taken. If you have questions, it’s easier to ask when you receive the medication than to call later.
Avoid keeping medicines on a bedside table. More than one overdose has been attributed to patients taking drugs too often when he or she is not fully awake. Additionally, the possibility of taking the wrong medication increases in this situation.
Keep medications up to date. If a medication is to be renewed, be sure to let the doctor or pharmacist know about a week before the expiration on the current bottle. This way, you can rest assured that the medication can be continued without a lapse due to holidays, running out at night, etc.
Dispose of all unused and expired prescriptions properly. Unfortunately, disposing of pills and medicines down the drain can increase the chances that local water supplies become contaminated. Keep the medications in the bottles with lids on and dispose of the bottles in the trash. This latter solution is not the best one, but until these bottles and their medications can be disposed of in an environmentally-safe way, people have little choice in how to eliminate the medicines from the household.
Make sure that all pills are accounted for and that the patient is 1) not taking medications that belong to others, and 2) that the patient is not giving away medications.

One way to help cut down on the number of prescriptions that a person might be taking is to ask the doctor or pharmacist if the medication can be combined. For instance, why take a cough medicine and a decongestant when both can be combined and purchased in one package? This type of packaging may save money as well as time, space and confusion.

Tags: elderly, prescriptions
Posted in Caregivers, Patients | No Comments »

Baxter’s Death Brings Attention to Therapy Dogs

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Have you heard about dogs who provide comfort to patients in a hospice or hospital? Baxter, a dog who joined a hospice program with his owners about four years ago, died this past week. His death brings attention to how dogs can provide comfort to those who are engaged with the transition from life to death.

The story begins when Baxter’s owners decided to volunteer at the local hospice. They brought Baxter along for the orientation, and that’s when the owners learned about dog training and certification through Therapy Dogs International. Baxter was game, and – according to his owners - it was as though Baxter made the decision on his own to pass the training and certification at TDI well before he attended the course.

Therapy dogs offer unconditional love, non-judgment and accepting attention to humans. Dogs with a special talent for entertaining, comforting, or teaching show affinity for therapy work. In general, a therapy dog needs to be even-tempered and good natured, friendly and curious, well socialized and able to work with a variety of people. But there are two sides to this story.

The ideal therapy dog handler is a warm, caring, responsible person who is disability-aware and enjoys social interaction. If you are a friendly, giving person who loves your dog and would like to share him, as well as your time and talents, with others, therapy dog work may be for you. There are significant benefits to joining an existing, organized, recognized therapy dog organization. A quick search of the Internet may help you locate one in your area.

Unfortunately, Baxter was a geriatric dog, or an ‘elder’ when he became certified. Therefore, he had only four years to provide comfort to many patients, young and old at the San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine and Palomar Pomerado Hospital in San Diego, California, before he died. But, his lessons live on to help educate people who own and love their dogs…he provides inspiration to those who might wonder if their pets are appropriate helpers for those who need their comfort.

If you are interested in becoming involved with Therapy Dogs International, visit their Web site to learn more about their processes. TDI was founded in 1976 in new Jersey and it is a non-profit organization. If you do not own a dog, perhaps you can donate to their cause if their mission moves you to do so.

You also can visit Baxter’s Web site or his blog to learn more about this special dog. Baxter lived to be nineteen years and six months old, and he provided a much-needed and welcome comfort to many people in his old age and an inspiration to anyone to help others who need comfort.

Tags: hospice training, therapy dogs
Posted in Caregivers, Death & Dying, Grief and Grieving, Hospice, Patients | No Comments »

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