What is the GCM’s Role is the Recovery Phase of Death and Dying ?

March 7, 2021

The recovery phase of death and dying

This occurs when people finally are able to cope with the mental, social, physical, religious, and financial effects of their disease, a heavy load In the disease process and acceptance process, this is the period of time after a medical procedure such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. The client’s response to treatment is being monitored. Recovery does not always mean remission, but instead, it is the ability to accept and deal with the struggles of their illness

A Story About the recovery phase

William died at the home of his son after he had accepted that he was to die of liver failure. He was hospitalized and had not signed a Do Not Resuscitate because he actually did want everything done to save him. He had new twin grandsons a grandaughter he adored and loved life. He was having dialysis to treat his symptoms. A care manager knew that the doctors suspected cancer but believed the procedure to find out would kill him. But they felt their hands were tied by the DNR and the hypocritic oath. The care manager, finally, after talking to a nun on the staff of the Catholic hospital who said she would help, and talked to the lead physician and asked that he order palliative care. He did and all 4 physicians talked to Bill gently and about removing the dialysis and signing a DNR. He did and after a family meeting lead by palliative care and hospice, William came home with 24-hour care.

The Recovery Phase Begins

After his coming to terms with his death, he and his family, sons, and grandchildren were able to say the goodbyes and offer the unconditional love that they had been fearful to express before his acceptance. A feeling of light joy permeated his room. For almost a month he lived in the family room overlooking the garden, where his hospital bed was set up. Great-grandchildren brought pictures, marveled at “grandpa grandpa “ high up in a hospital bed. His son put a headphone with a mike on and William could hear and speak, as he had not in years. His 24-hour caregivers were gifted loving care providers from a GCM agency Livhome.

Home Care and Care Management in End of Life

The 24-hour shifts included a nurse of 18 years from Central America and a man finishing his Ph.D. from the Congo. They cared for him with great warmth, so his family could just be his family, relaxing in their love and surrounding him, as if in a circle, that swirled with 4 generations, going every which way while he watched, really loved, and melted into his last stage. They ate meals, chitchatted, and welcomed new family coming in to see William, as he remained in the center in his hospital bed, the fulcrum of the gathering.

End of Life Geriatric Care Management Well Done

The geriatric care manager, GCM Mary Brennan, from Livhome, a seasoned powerful and so kind LCSW, was an orchestra leader in Bill’s death. She adjusted here and there, with care providers, family needs, Bill’s needs, and followed the guidance of hospice, who were slowly increasing the pain meds, and supporting his health and medical care needs in death. The geriatric care management agency worked as a partner supplying 24 care and support for the family.

Bill was able to have again, a magical care provider from Livhome, who had been with him for almost two years and was there at the end as were all his sons – a life fully lived and a good, good death.

You are only as strong as your weakest link- those are the care providers.

These people were the raft that floated bill up while the family, offered love and hospice provided medical and end of life support. Together they buoyed Bill into his last stage of dying, knowing that his family was the fabric of every step he took toward forward towards death.

Deliver a Good End of Life- Add Death and Dying to Your Care Management Agency

Serve Your Client Until Death Do You Part

Join me Thursday, March 11, and learn why End of Life Services Are a perfect new service for care managers

In this 1 ½ -hour webinar you will learn how to

1.Transition the patient/family through the five stages of death

2.Help clients be active participants in their care

3.Give the family/caregiver tools to manage their care

4.Provide family center care to caregiver and family

5.Choose the right support services through all stages of death

6.Introduce Hospice and Palliative care and work with their team

7.Use ALCA End of Life Benefits During COVID.

8.Use COVID -19 Family Coaching for GCM

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If you really want to add End of Life to your care management business sign up for this webinar now

How Can a Care Manager Bring Joy to a Dying Client ?

June 22, 2017

A care manager can bring joy in the terminal phase of dying and give a good life to the very end.Here is a wonderful example

Bill died at the home of his son after he had accepted that he was to die of liver failure. After coming to terms with his death, he and his family, sons, and grandchildren were able to say the goodbyes and offer the unconditional love that they had been fearful to express before his acceptance. A feeling of light joy permeated his room, a family room overlooking the garden, where his hospital bed was set up. Great grandchildren brought pictures, marveled at “grandpa grandpa “ high up in a hospital bed.

His son put a headphone with a mike on and William could hear and speak, as he had not in years. It was like the wonderful film and concept Alive Inside. Hearing was a gift that gave him such joy. in his last weeks of life.

His 24-hour caregivers were gifted loving care providers from a GCM agency Livhome .The 24-hour shifts included a nurse of 18 years from Central America and a man finishing his Ph.D. from the Congo. They cared for him with great warmth, so his family could just be his family, relaxing in their love and surrounding him, as if in a circle, that swirled with 4 generations, going every which way while he watched, really loved and melted into his last stage. They ate meals, chitchatted and welcomed new family coming in to see William, as he remained in the center in his hospital bed, the fulcrum of the gathering.

The geriatric care manager, GCM Mary Brennan, from Livhome , a seasoned ,powerful and so kind LCSW, adjusted here and there, with care providers, family needs, Bill’s needs and followed the guidance of Hospice, who were slowly increasing the pain meds, and supporting his heath and medical care needs in death. The geriatric care management agency worked as a partner supplying 24 care and support for the family.

Bill was able to have again, a magical care provider from Livhome, who had been with him for almost two years and was so at the end.

You are only as strong as your weakest link- those are the care providers. These people were the raft that floated Bill up while the family, offered love and hospice provided medical and end of life support. Together they buoyed Bill into his last stage of dying, knowing that his family was the fabric of every step he took toward forward towards death. They gave him that good life till the very end.

Areas to Cover in Whole Family Assessment- Sandwich Generation Issues

June 11, 2013

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Sandwich Generation Issues- Many family caregivers have multiple generations requiring their attention and care. In 1981, Dorothy Miller coined the term sandwich generation to refer to inequality in the exchange of resources and support between generations.

Specifically, Miller was referring to a segment of the middle-aged generation that provides support to both young and older family members yet does not receive reciprocal support in exchange. Miller emphasized the unique stressors of multigenerational caregiving and the lack of community resources available to assist the middle generation. Because multigenerational caregivers are most often women dealing with the complex role configurations of wife, mother, daughter, caregiver, and employee, some researchers use the phrase women in the middle interchangeably with the sandwich generation.

In 2013 this is more and more an issue with men – adult sons as well. I am now helping a family where the 93 old Dad is home dying at his son’s home with Hospice and an excellent geriatric care management agency Livhome supplying 24 hour care. The adult son has four grown sons and three grandchildren. In all we have 4 generations sandwiched together helped thankfully by an excellent Hospice and terrific geriatric care management agency. These agencies together and in unison help unlayer the sandwich and allow the whole family to come together to bring joy to all their lives while they surround this great grandfather through his death . That’s the grace of the whole family approach to me .