Member Spotlight
Read the full review on www.hadassah.org
Americans are getting older. By 2030, older adults are projected to outnumber children for the first time in US history, according to a 2018 US Census report. That means that more of us will find ourselves juggling work-family balance and wondering how best to make sure the people we love get the care they need — without sacrificing our own health.
Thanks to Judith Sands, a Hadassah life member, help is here in the form of a practical how-to guide to navigating the challenges of caregiving, particularly for individuals interested in learning more about the ins and outs of home hospice care.
Her book, Home Hospice Navigation: The Caregiver’s Guide, is a comprehensive, tip-filled resource, says Sands. “It takes the guesswork out of caregiving and is intended for caregivers dealing with the home hospice journey. It also benefits those whose loved one is declining with a chronic illness.” Sands, a mother of one who grew up in Buffalo, NY, and Rehovot, Israel, lived in Coral Springs, FL, for many years, before moving to Raleigh, NC, with her husband, Lou Sands, who she describes as being “supportive” and very involved with her mother’s caregiving.
Will your patients and their caregivers have the knowledge and experience to have a positive home hospice experience? Caregiving in-home hospice can be a complicated journey filled with challenges and surprises. Navigating the caregiving and coordination activities takes knowledge and resources.
Home Hospice Navigation: The Caregiver’s Guide is a practical and comprehensive handbook that grew out of Judith Sands’ experiences as her mother’s caregiver. The book is designed to help caregivers effectively manage the hospice journey, from that crucial conversation about whether to begin hospice care and to select a provider to leveraging the care team, managing in-home care, and saying goodbye. Home Hospice Navigation is full of tips for when and how to advocate for a loved one as well as with caregiver support strategies and personal notes. There are extensive “helpful hints” and resources throughout the book. The clear, organized, comprehensive roadmap for navigating the healthcare maze provides an accessible description of what the caregiver needs to engage supportive care through hospice and to interact with and manage the activities in the final phase of life.
“End-of-life care is rife with cultural, social, and faith-based connotations and expectations, personal biases, and fears,” says Ms. Sands. “Care-related challenges abound for the loved one, the family, and significant others. Everyone has a set of expectations, and often they are unclear or in conflict with those involved in the care process. Navigating through the unknowns before issues and concerns become problems is critical for successful caregiving.”
Despite extensive professional clinical knowledge and experiences, Ms. Sands faced challenges along the hospice caregiving journey. A driving force behind the book was her desire for all caregivers to have the information and support they need to have a positive home hospice experience.
Judith Sands, RN, MSL, BSN, CPHRM, CPHQ, CCM, LHRM, ARM has over 30 years of experience as a healthcare professional and is a recognized authority in the areas of care coordination, quality, risk management, and patient safety. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Judith is a registered nurse, holding state and national certifications in case, quality, and risk management. Ms. Sands has been a speaker at various local and national conferences. Her current focus is on ensuring patient safety, care coordination, and bringing dignity to end-of-life care.
In the May 27, 2018 edition of The News & Observer, Home Hospice Navigation was reviewed by Cindy Schaefer.
Raleigh nurse writes guide for caregivers | News & Observer
“Home Hospice Navigation: The Caregiver’s Guide” (CreateSpace) is a culmination of author Judith R. Sands’ background as a health care professional and her time spent as a caregiver.
“The decision to write ‘Home Hospice Navigation’ was based on my experiences caring for my mother and my desire to make the home hospice journey understandable and less stressful for caregivers,” she says. “The book answers Mom’s question: ‘What do families do without someone with your knowledge and experience?’ ”
“Home Hospice Navigation” is a handbook designed to help caregivers effectively manage the hospice journey, from the initial conversation about whether to begin hospice care, to managing in-home care and saying goodbye. Practical tips and resources are sprinkled throughout the book.
“End-of-life care is rife with cultural, social and faith-based connotations and expectations, personal biases and fears, Sands says. “Care-related challenges abound for the loved one, the family and significant others. Everyone has a set of expectations and often they are unclear or in conflict with those involved in the care process. Navigating through the unknowns before issues and concerns become problems is critical for successful caregiving.”
Sands is a registered nurse and certified in case, quality, and risk management. She lives in Raleigh.
Don’t delay, order your copy of
Home Hospice Navigation: The Caregiver’s Guide today!