There is help out there

It is not easy to think of a loved one having to face daunting treatments, therapies and pain during a serious illness. The good news is there is help out there.

Palliative care is a specialized approach to easing suffering for people with serious illness. It’s about relieving pain, reducing symptoms and easing stress. It has also been shown to alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and depression. Palliative care honors personal wishes and values, and research suggests that it may even prolong a person’s life.

At Nazareth Home, we have partnered with iN2L (It’s Never Too Late) to create a groundbreaking and innovative palliative care program called Connected Affirmation Project (CAP). We are the first senior living community to use this technology for our palliative elders. And we couldn’t be more excited!

CAP provides an opportunity for innovative compassion at a time when many family members are at a loss as to how to interact with their loved ones. It allows avenues of engagement that are fulfilling and fun at bedside. It also gives staff members another venue for interaction that can be memory-making and entertaining.

Palliative elders often slow down in participation of activities outside of their room. This technology brings activities to the elder wherever they may be. It provides different types of engagement, including spiritual offerings such as hymns and prayers, movies, classic TV shows, games, music and so much more.

iN2L technology is also utilized to collect the elders’ life stories, allowing them to reminisce and reflect on their amazing life. This helps residents find meaning when faced with death, and the ease to say goodbye because they have lived full lives.

With these life stories, we create a legacy gift for family members when the elder goes to God. It includes information about their family, careers, service, skills, life accomplishments, and other interests and hobbies.

“I’m so grateful to be able to minister at Nazareth Home. It’s a wonderful place that embraces innovative technology for fun, meaningful and spiritual engagement,” said Bridget Bunning, Director of Pastoral Care & Mission.

CAP builds the palliative care program around what the residents like and dislike. With our focus on person-centered care we are driving home the belief of Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the hospice movement:

“You matter because you are you, and you matter to the last moment of your life.”

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