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During my professional life as a massage therapist, many moments have touched my heart and reaffirmed my choice of careers, but none compare to those I have experienced while working with those who are dying. ...
Continue readingMy mother, Gloria Mineo, was a champion and still is, even in her spiritual realm. She lived during the Depression for which, I don’t think I knew the full amount of strife and struggle of her beginnings. She was strong but soft. She was discipline. She was patience. She was an artist. She was the “glue.” She was a Mother. ...
Continue readingSomething about nurses causes folks to seek us out: in the grocery aisle, at the library, during exercise class, or the church banquet. There’s something about us. Our “nurse-ness” just lights up any place we’re at! It’s as if a neon sign is glowing, “Nurse here! Go ahead and ask your questions or tell me your story.” And we do so love those stories and questions. ...
Continue readingCare Dimensions hospice volunteer Annette Pollack shares a laugh with her patient.No expectations. Just be present. These two phrases have summarized my work as a hospice volunteer.I started my journey as a hospice volunteer over 20 years ago when I lived in Rhode Island and was raising a family and consulting part time. I went through the training and was assigned a 90-year-old patient. Our ...
Continue readingI am a gardener, and one of the first things I noticed about the Kaplan Family Hospice House is its serene, peaceful setting. My uncle’s obituary mentioned that donations could be made in his name to Care Dimensions/Kaplan Family Hospice House. I had been looking for a way to give back, so I thought, “Why not volunteer?” I signed up for the hospice volunteer training that fall. ...
Continue readingThis is the 10-year anniversary of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), April 16, a day that was founded to inspire, educate and empower the public and health care providers about the importance of advance care planning. This special initiative creates an opportunity to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding how much treatment they want to receive at end of life and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be. ...
Continue readingWednesdays are the best day of the week! My human says in a cheerful voice, "Do you want to go to the Kaplan House and put smiles on people’s faces?" Off we go to visit patients at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, sometimes sporting a decorative outfit in addition to my harness and leash. ...
Continue readingDeath is not an easy topic to talk about. It can make us feel scared and uneasy. Talking about it with children can be even more difficult. Using books can be a helpful way for parents, teachers, or other caregivers to guide conversations with young children. The following books have been reviewed and recommended by child life specialists at Care Dimensions. ...
Continue readingDuring the two tough years of my husband’s illness, I lost my balance. Every consideration in my life was laser-focused on his well-being. I never doubted the vital importance of my full-time role as a caregiver; in fact, I considered it a gift to accompany my husband as I always had in our marriage, this time (sadly) on the journey to the end of his life. He would have done exactly the same for me. In his acceptance of me as his caregiver, I felt his ultimate trust in me as his life's partner. ...
Continue readingAccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 5.8 million people in the U.S. suffer from heart failure and one-fifth of them will die within one year of diagnosis. While these statistics can be daunting, there are ways to improve quality of life and make each day more manageable for those living with advanced cardiac disease. ...
Continue readingAnyone—patient, family, care provider—can make a referral. Fill in the form online or call us today.
Since 1978, Care Dimensions, formerly Hospice of the North Shore, has provided comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals and families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. As the non-profit leader in advanced illness care, we offer services in over 100 communities in Massachusetts.
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