Hospice equals home

Published Thursday, November 29, 2007 3:47:15 PM Central Time



By DIANE MONTZ

Globe Staff Writer

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP -- Regional Hospice helped Bill Balduc remain at home during his last 13 months of life.

"That was his main concern," Brenda Balduc said of her husband, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- commonly called Lou Gehrig's Disease.

In his last year, Bill Balduc saw his younger son graduate from college, smiled at his first grandson and met his idol, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson.

As Bill's condition worsened, Brenda, a nurse's aide and his main caregiver, had help from hospice staff and volunteers.

"I couldn't have done it without the help of hospice," Brenda said.

By the time Bill was totally dependent and needed 24-hour care, hired health care workers were on duty as well at the family's Ironwood Township home.

Bill Balduc was diagnosed in August 2004 with ALS. He was 48.

When the neurologist gave them the diagnosis, neither Brenda or Bill knew what ALS was.

"Lou Gehrig's Disease," the doctor said.

ALS, named for the baseball player, is a progressive neuromuscular condition. It causes weakness, problems in dexterity or walking, difficulty in speaking or swallowing. Patients eventually become completely disabled and require breathing support. (Information from American Family Physician's Web site, aafp.org.)

Bill's diagnosis came after four months of tests to rule out other ailments. It was the day before a party to celebrate the Balducs' 25th anniversary.

"That was really sad," Brenda said.

In the next three years, "there was a lot of fear, anger, frustration, a lot of denial," Brenda said.

A nurse Brenda had worked with recommended hospice. Brenda thought hospice care was only for patients with less than six months to live.

"She said, 'oh, no, that's not true,'" Brenda said.

In September 2006, hospice began coming to the Balduc home.

Hospice helped with equipment, medicine, personal care, support, volunteers, a chaplain and counseling. Bill Balduc got an hourlong massage weekly.

"They wanted to make Bill as comfortable as possible," Brenda said.

As a nurse's aide, Brenda was familiar with a lot of the medical equipment needed for her husband's care. Smiling, she said that she showed him only once how something worked and he instructed the other aides or family members.

Still, she said, caring for someone with ALS takes a brutal toll physically and emotionally.

"When it got real bad with the emotions, I asked for counseling to come in," she said.

Hospice provided counseling.

There were respites.

Bill and Brenda danced together one last time at their older son Travis' wedding in 2005.

In 2006, the Balducs went to Houghton for their son Troy's graduation from Michigan Technological University.

In September 2006, the Dream Foundation sent the Balducs to meet Bill's favorite NASCAR driver, Johnson, No. 48, at Hendrick Motorsports headquarters in North Carolina. Bill suited up and went for a ride with Johnson.

One of the hardest things for her husband, Brenda said, was that he was unable to hold their baby grandson.

On Labor Day, as Brenda got ready for work, "my husband said, 'pick up that phone, call them, tell them you're not coming in.'"

Brenda took a leave of absence from Villa Maria, where she has worked for 26 years.

Bill Balduc died Oct. 3. He was 51.

"I look back at it and ask myself, 'how did I ever do it?' " Brenda said. "All the love I had for him helped me keep going.

"Caring for Bill at home, in his own environment, has taught me that you can deal with all the anger, exhaustion and fear -- and all other feelings ... and get beyond them."

Hospice can help.

"Their support was such a joyful and beneficial experience," Brenda wrote in a heartfelt statement.


Candlelight memorial

IRONWOOD -- Regional Hospice is holding a candlelight memorial service tonight from 6 to 8 in the cafeteria at Gogebic Community College. Hospice families, others who have lost a loved one, and the public are invited. For more information about hospice, palliative care and advance care planning, contact Regional Hospice at 906-932-7076, visit Caringinfo.org, or call the helpline at 800-658-8898.

http://www.ironwooddailyglobe.com/1129hosp.htm

November is National Hospice Month, honoring hospice and the hospice team: physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers that provide this service.




According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care (NHPCO) Web site, "The focus of hospice relies on the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity, and that our loved ones will receive the necessary support to allow us to do so."
Hospice is designed for patients facing a life-limiting illness. Hospice cares for these patients and their families offering medical, spiritual, emotional and bereavement support. Hospice services can be provided to patients in their homes, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and in an inpatient setting for patients requiring a higher level of care or respite services. Hospice is not a place, but a level of care for patients and families designed to allow patients at the end-of-life to live with dignity, compassion and comfort.
"We develop relationships with hospices in the community. We currently have seven or eight different hospice providers that come into the facility," said Bruce Grissom, director of Social Services, Southeastern Pennsylvania Veterans' Center in Spring City. "Veterans and their families make the decision which hospice to use."
The cost for hospice services is covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, Medicaid Hospice Benefit and most private insurances. Patients and families have no out-of-pocket expenses for medications to control symptoms and pain, medical equipment and supplies, physician visits, nursing care, home health aide services, inpatient care for pain and symptom management, social work services and grief support.
"It is a common misconception that hospice comes in and takes over the total care of the veteran in the nursing home setting. Hospice offers supplemental care and support, pain management expertise and assistance with extra personal care and social services for counseling and support," Grissom said.
"Hospice also provides a lot of support and bereavement services to families after death."
The hospice team works in conjunction with the patient and family to determine the patient's needs and wishes. A plan of care is developed specifically for that patient. Hospice focuses on care and comfort.
"This is one more measure of comfort that our facility can offer veterans and their families," Grissom said.
Contact the NHPCO at www.nhpco.org or call 800-658-8896 to learn more about hospice or to find a provider in your area.
"Families respond positively to what hospice has to offer once they experience it. Many families express that they had no idea what a wonderful service hospice is," Grissom said.