The Soothing Role of Music in Hospice Care

At the end of life, music’s natural calming effect can help hospice patients express and experience a wide array of emotions at a time when self-expression and coping matters more than ever.

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Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

Top 5 Blog Posts — Nov. 28, 2016

Did you miss last week's most-read Changing Aging blog posts? Ecumen's online visitors found these articles most interesting:

Grief and the Holidays: 15 Ways to Cope
“If your life has changed, then certainly your holidays will change,” said Chris Quistad, Ecumen’s Director of Spiritual Care. “Although there is no avoiding the holidays, there are ways to cope with both the grief that change brings and the stress that the holidays bring,” she added.

The Comfort of Touch in Hospice Care
Hospice is fundamentally about giving peace, support and comfort to people in the last stages of life.  Often there is pain that cannot be managed by medication — a deeper spiritual pain and anxiety. Alternative and holistic therapies can help in ways conventional medicine cannot. Massage therapy is one of the most effective ways to help hospice patients relax and find comfort in their last days and hours. 

Facing the Holidays with an Empty Chair: Ecumen Hospice Hosts Remembrance Service
The first holidays after the death of a loved one can be a looming and stressful time for loved ones. To help the family and friends of those who passed away in Ecumen Hospice this year cope with the upcoming holidays, Ecumen Hospice staff recently hosted a remembrance service.

Five Ecumen Sites Get National “Best Nursing Home” Rating from U.S. News & World Report
Five Ecumen owned and managed sites in Minnesota have received a “Best Nursing Home” rating by U.S. News & World Report magazine. 

The Mission of Hospice Vigil Volunteers: Comfort at the Very End of Life
As St. Paul resident Molly McCarthy was considering volunteer opportunities, she remembered a significant event in her own life – when her father was in hospice just before he died. So Molly signed up with Ecumen Hospice-Twin Cities to become a vigil volunteer.

You can read these articles and more at www.ecumen.org


The Comfort of Touch in Hospice Care

Massage therapy is one of the most effective ways to help hospice patients relax and find comfort in their last days and hours. 

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How to Keep from Overeating During the Holidays

With Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow, Ecumen thought it would be helpful to share some tips to keep from overeating during the holidays.

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Grief and the Holidays: 15 Ways to Cope

With the holidays approaching, Ecumen knows that those who have lost a loved one will be facing changes and, inevitably, grief. Read this post for 15 ways to cope with grief through the holidays.

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Facing the Holidays with an Empty Chair: Ecumen Hospice Hosts Remembrance Service

The first holidays after the death of a loved one can be a looming and stressful time for loved ones. To help the family and friends of those who passed away in Ecumen Hospice this year cope with the upcoming holidays, Ecumen Hospice staff hosted a remembrance service on Sunday, Nov. 6at Ecumen Seasons at Maplewood.

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Top 5 Blog Posts — Nov. 21, 2016

Did you miss last week's most-read Changing Aging blog posts? Ecumen's online visitors found these articles most interesting:

Five Ecumen Sites Get National “Best Nursing Home” Rating from U.S. News & World Report
Five Ecumen owned and managed sites in Minnesota have received a “Best Nursing Home” rating by U.S. News & World Report magazine. 

The Mission of Hospice Vigil Volunteers: Comfort at the Very End of Life
As St. Paul resident Molly McCarthy was considering volunteer opportunities, she remembered a significant event in her own life – when her father was in hospice just before he died. So Molly signed up with Ecumen Hospice-Twin Cities to become a vigil volunteer.

A Good Night’s Sleep is a Key Player in Healthy Aging
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) says that, older adults need roughly the same amount of sleep as all adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But, in the cases of many older adults, this is not reality due to variables such as chronic pain, sickness, or even medication.

Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts Urges Colleagues To End Ageism
Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts, who is also LeadingAge Board Chair, addressed providers from around the country on a subject she is personally passionate about: ending ageism.

Ecumen Detroit Lakes Women Honored for Community Leadership
Two Ecumen Detroit Lakes women – Sandy Lia, a 36-year employee and Marie Lundburg, a 99-year-old resident – recently were featured in Women 360, a magazine all about Becker County women, published by Detroit Lakes Newspapers.

You can read these articles and more at www.ecumen.org.


The Mission of Hospice Vigil Volunteers: Comfort at the Very End of Life

As St. Paul resident Molly McCarthy was considering volunteer opportunities, she remembered a significant event in her own life – when her father was in hospice just before he died.

Read more


Ecumen Detroit Lakes Women Honored for Community Leadership

Two Ecumen Detroit Lakes women recently were featured in Women 360, a magazine all about Becker County women, published by Detroit Lakes Newspapers.

Read more


Five Ecumen Sites Get National “Best Nursing Home” Rating from U.S. News & World Report

Five Ecumen owned and managed sites in Minnesota have received a “Best Nursing Home” rating by U.S. News & World Report magazine. 

Read more