Salus is here to guide and support patients and families as you navigate serious illness and end-of-life decisions and care
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As you cope with the serious illness of your family member, we invite you to take time out to tune into your needs. Find what speaks to you in this moment. Bookmark this page and come back another time, with a different need.
24/7. What you need. When you need it. Where you are.
The information in these videos is educational and supportive in nature. Caregivers and family, always defer to the unique, individualized needs and Plans of Care that are being tended by your family member’s Care Team.
We’re here for you. If you experience major changes in your family member’s condition, or unmet needs, call our 24/7 hotline at (888) 881-4822.
"How long until?" "What, now?" "What matters most?"
Name your anxious questions about time, like "how long?“
Tune into the present, into what's happening right now.
Ask, "What matters most?," and take action to make it happen.
Redefine several small words that have big meanings during serious illness: "Eat," "Accept," and "Hope."
Is it "eating you" that your loved one is eating less? What can you do?
Explore "acceptance" as an ongoing process.
Explore what "hope" can mean, in the midst of serious illness.
Your circles of support are crucial. A serious illness can stir conflict. It can create meaningful support. Here's more.
Understand your most important relationships in new ways.
Everything in your family feels thrown out of balance?
Are different opinions and styles of care creating conflict?
How do you cope when your loved one is seriously ill? When you feel empty and depleted, here's help to refill, refuel, and recharge: physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and spiritually.
You feel empty. Depleted. It's time to refill, refuel, and recharge.
How is your health being affected by your family member's illness?
Likely, your emotions are like a roller coaster. Here's what you can do.
Are you overloaded with information? Too many decisions?
Your friends, workplace, and others don't "get" it? Some do?
Where do you find purpose, comfort, and meaning?
Tend the needs of children, teens, and seniors who are impacted by the serious illness of your loved one.
What is your child's relationship with the ill person? Age? What can you do?
Teens may be losing a parent, or a grandparent. Hear them. Help them cope.
Seniors can be discounted. See what's happening from their eyes and ears.
Grief is less like stages and more like a personal portrait. What is yours? What can you do to tend your grief, and others?
Different kinds of loss and grief affect us in different ways.
Anticipate. Expect. Participate. Relate. Learn what you can be doing, now.
A sudden crisis or loss is especially hard. See it. Respond. Tend with care.
Are you experiencing a loss that others discount? Or a loss they don't know?
Are you experiencing a no-end kind of grief? It's ongoing, with no endings?
Are you--or another--terribly stuck in grief? Frozen? Unable to cope?
Explore special needs of these family members, if they are seriously ill.
Learn how your family member's dementia can affect you.
Understand his or her unique needs as a veteran.
Your stressors, decisions, and responsibilities are overwhelming.
Do you or other family live long distance from the one who is ill? Here is help for you!
One family member's the caregiver, another lives away. Find mutual support.
You live long distance. How do you discern, "Do I stay or do I go?"
Your family is scattered across the miles. Explore creative ways to connect!
Preview our 10 videos in 10 minutes. Become aware of 10 key themes for your loved one’s hospice care.
What core questions are you asking about hospice care? Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?
How can you recognize pain and provide comfort?
Medications can be so complicated. Here's help for what you need to know and do.
Is the person you are tending experiencing shortness of breath?
As a caregiver, how can you provide independence, safety, and dignity?
Is your loved one anxious? Are you? What can you do?
Is your loved one sad? Are you? What can you do?
What beliefs and values are being honored, or are in conflict? Look more closely.
What SIGNs might indicate SIGNificant changes in your loved one's condition?
What happens at "final moments"? How can you prepare? Give care?
When the person's hospice care is because of a more typical illness/diagnosis, but all are still affected by Coronavirus precautions, distancing, etc.
¿Cuáles son las principales preguntas que está haciendo sobre cuidados paliativos? ¿Quién? ¿Qué? ¿Cuándo? ¿Dónde? ¿Cómo? ¿Por qué?
¿Cómo puede reconocer el dolor y brindar consuelo?
Los medicamentos pueden ser muy complicados. Aquí presentamos ayuda sobre lo que necesita saber y hacer.
¿La persona de la que cuida presenta disnea (falta de aliento)?
Como cuidador, ¿cómo puede ofrecer independencia, seguridad y dignidad?
¿Su ser querido siente ansiedad? ¿Usted la siente? ¿Qué puede hacer?
¿Su ser querido está triste? ¿Usted la siente? ¿Qué puede hacer?
¿Cuáles creencias y valores se están honrando o están en conflicto? Examine más detenidamente.
¿Qué SIGNos podrían indicar cambios SIGNificativos en el estado de su ser querido?
¿Qué sucede en los «momentos finales»? ¿Cómo puede prepararse? ¿Ofrecer cuidados?
Loss hits us in many ways. This loss--likely--is connected with other losses. Simply naming them can help you validate your grief experiences from the past, and understand your uniquely personal experience of this loss, at this time.
Your grief is deeply personal. You're sure to be experiencing it in many ways: anticipatory grief, sudden, disenfranchised (or discounted), and others. Explore these to understand your personal journey better: past, present, and ahead.
Click on the white dots to navigate to different chapters.
La pérdida nos golpea de muchas maneras. Esta pérdida, probablemente, está conectada con otras pérdidas. Simplemente nombrarlos puede ayudarte valide sus experiencias de duelo del pasado y comprenda su experiencia personal única de esta pérdida, en este momento.
Tu duelo es profundamente personal. Seguramente lo experimentará de muchas maneras: duelo anticipado, repentino, privado de derechos (o descontado) y otros. Explore estos para comprender mejor su viaje personal: pasado, presente y futuro.
Does grief really end with "acceptance"? Researchers have found that grief begins with accepting a bit of reality. And, it's less "stages" and more of an ongoing process. Check it out!
Instead of "stages" you achieve, grief is more of a going back forth between moments of "loss" and "restoration." Do you know, the words “mourning” and “morning” come from the same root word? How can this apply to you?
En lugar de "etapas" que logras, el duelo es más un retroceso entre momentos de "pérdida" y "restauración". ¿Sabes que las palabras "luto" y "mañana" provienen de la misma raíz? ¿Cómo se puede aplicar esto a ti?”.
¿El duelo realmente termina con la "aceptación"? Los investigadores han descubierto que el duelo comienza con la aceptación de un poco de realidad. Y se trata menos de "etapas" y más de un proceso continuo. ¡Échale un vistazo!
Grief can deplete your physical health and well-being. You've given your care to your loved one. It's time to take care of you! See how grief might be affecting you, and learn what you can do.
Are your emotions on a roller coaster? Do you find yourself not thinking clearly? Explore normal emotional and mental reactions to grief, with things you can do to get through everyday life, better.
For others, life has moved on. For you, realities of your loss are settling in. You might feel out of place with friends or social groups. You may be leaning into your spiritual beliefs--or--you may be questioning them. Here's guidance for finding your way.
El duelo puede agotar su salud física y su bienestar. Usted ha dado su cuidado a su ser querido. ¡Es hora de cuidarte! Vea cómo el duelo podría estar afectándolo y aprenda lo que puede hacer.
¿Están tus emociones en una montaña rusa? ¿Notas que no piensas con claridad? Explore las reacciones emocionales y mentales normales ante el duelo, con cosas que puede hacer para superar mejor la vida cotidiana.
Para otros, la vida ha seguido adelante. Para usted, la realidad de su pérdida se está asentando. Es posible que se sienta fuera de lugar con amigos o grupos sociales. Puede que te estés apoyando en tus creencias espirituales, o puede que las estés cuestionando. Aquí hay una guía para encontrar su camino.
In coping with grief, do you prefer to feel it and talk about it to others--or--do you prefer to be more logical about it and do something with it? Learn about "intuitive" and "instrumental" styles of grieving. What's your style?
Throughout the year, you check the weather to know how to prepare for the day. With grief, we can do much the same. Explore ways that seasonal and daily "weather" are much like seasonal and daily "grief."
Likely, you have many physical "things" left by your family member to deal with. Memories are everywhere! Do you scrap ‘em? Store ‘em? Or "stitch" ‘em together, making a new tapestry / quilt for life ahead?
Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and more can hit you with sudden waves of grief, leaving gaping holes of pain. What can you do? Can you find moments of wholeness, even in the midst of grief’s holes? Here’s how.
Al afrontar el duelo, ¿prefiere sentirlo y hablar de ello con los demás, o prefiere ser más lógico al respecto y hacer algo con él? Aprenda sobre los estilos de duelo "intuitivo" e "instrumental". ¿Cual es tu estilo?
A lo largo del año, consulta el clima para saber cómo prepararse para el día. Con el duelo, podemos hacer lo mismo. Explore las formas en que el "clima" estacional y diario se parece mucho al "duelo" estacional y diario.
Es probable que su familiar le deje muchas "cosas" físicas con las que lidiar. ¡Los recuerdos están en todas partes! ¿Los desechas? ¿Guardarlos? ¿O "coserlos" juntos, haciendo un nuevo tapiz / edredón para la vida que se avecina?
Los días festivos, los cumpleaños, los aniversarios y más pueden golpearlo con repentinas oleadas de duelo, que dejan enormes agujeros de duelo. ¿Qué puedes hacer? ¿Puedes encontrar momentos de plenitud, incluso en medio de los agujeros del duelo? Así es cómo.
Debbie Robson
Vice President of Home Health & Hospice
Salus Homecare offers a network of highly skilled, compassionate professionals dedicated to helping you cope with the challenges of a serious illness. If you’re not sure where to turn, contact us, and let’s figure this out together.
Feedback is a valued gift that we always appreciate. Here’s what the community has to say about their hospice care experience and working in partnership with Salus.