One of the most common concerns for families providing hospice care at home is what to do when unexpected situations arise, especially during the night. That moment when something changes with your loved one and you're unsure if it's an emergency can feel overwhelming and scary. Thinking through a plan ahead of time can help you make better decisions in moments of crisis.

When a loved one enters hopsice, families may find themselves navigating a different kind of ebb and flow—the complex currents of family dynamics. The hard choices and differing perspectives that family members are faced with can stir tension. Whether it’s deciding on care plans, managing visits, or simply processing grief in unique ways, these moments can challenge even the closest families. Yet, with intention and understanding, you can find harmony amid it all, keeping your loved one’s peace at the center.

Let’s face it - when someone is in hospice care and spending a lot of time in bed or on the couch, their life can get pretty boring. And while their energy levels may be limited, there are many gentle ways to keep their mind active and spirits lifted during alert periods. The key is to follow your loved one's lead, paying attention to their interest and energy levels throughout the day, and keeping some engaging activities in mind to share when the time is right.

When caring for a loved one who spends most of their time in bed, maintaining skin health becomes an essential part of providing comfort and health. As someone who's caring for a family member, you might feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of preventing pressure injuries, commonly known as bed sores.

Fortunately, in Brookings we get a lot more sun than the average coastal Oregon city, but winters can still be cold and dreary. The overcast weather and fog can make anyone feel a bit sleepy occasionally, but some people struggle with it much more than others.

The holiday season often brings more than just festivities - for many, it reveals changes in their loved ones' health that lead to difficult decisions. Perhaps you noticed your mother struggling to manage her medications, or your father having trouble with daily tasks. Now, as the new year begins, you find yourself stepping into the unfamiliar role of caregiver.

Living far from a loved one receiving hospice care brings unique emotional challenges. While technology helps bridge the physical gap, many long-distance family members still struggle with feelings of helplessness and guilt. However, distance doesn't mean you can't provide meaningful support and maintain strong connections during this important time.

When memory loss affects a parent, many adult children feel a deep sense of loss even while their parent is still physically present. The person who once knew every detail of your life may now struggle to remember your name, or the parent who taught you to ride a bike might not recall the experience at all. Yet meaningful connection remains possible - it just requires us to adapt our approach and expectations.

Working in hospice care provides a unique window into life's most profound moments. While many view hospice as a place of endings, it's often where some of life's deepest wisdom emerges. Through countless conversations with patients approaching their final days, certain themes consistently arise that can enrich all our lives.

It’s New Year’s Resolution time again, but here's the truth: traditional resolutions rarely fit into the life of a caregiver. Your days are already full with medication schedules, physical care, and emotional support. What you need isn't another ambitious goal—it's a gentle, practical approach to taking care of yourself.

Christmas morning carries a special magic—a time when families traditionally gather to share joy, exchange gifts, and create lasting memories. When a loved one is in hospice care, ensuring they remain an integral part of these precious moments requires thoughtful planning and creativity. With care and consideration, you can create a Christmas morning that honors both tradition and your loved one's current needs.

The holiday season often arrives with a whirlwind of emotions and responsibilities, especially for those caring for a loved one in hospice. For those seeking to offer a thoughtful gift, the challenge is finding something meaningful that can be acquired or prepared quickly, without adding extra stress to an already demanding situation.

Here are a few of our favorite last-minute gift ideas.

The twinkling lights, the festive music, the endless stream of cheerful greetings—the holiday season can feel like an emotional minefield for those who have walked the challenging path of caregiving and loss. If you find yourself struggling to match the world's jubilant mood, know that your feelings are valid, normal, and deeply human. The journey of caring for a loved one through illness and hospice leaves an indelible mark on your heart, and the holidays can bring those experiences into sharp, sometimes painful focus.

The holiday season can be an especially challenging time for families who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one. For those who have walked the difficult path of caring for a parent through hospice, with children witnessing the final stages of their grandparent's life, the holidays can feel like a landscape of mixed emotions—a terrain of both profound loss and unexpected tenderness.

The holiday season can be an incredibly complex emotional landscape when you're facing the impending loss of a loved one. Anticipatory grief – the profound sorrow experienced before an expected loss – can feel overwhelming, especially during a time traditionally associated with joy and togetherness. As you walk this difficult path, remember that your feelings are valid, and there are ways to find comfort and meaning during this challenging time.

When a loved one is in hospice care, the question of whether they can travel often arises. The short answer is that it is possible, but it requires careful planning and coordination with the hospice team.

When a parent is receiving hospice care, and especially when they are bed-bound, celebrating Thanksgiving requires thoughtful adaptation – but it doesn't mean the holiday can't be special and meaningful. With some creative planning, you can bring the warmth and joy of Thanksgiving to your loved one's bedside, creating precious memories for the whole family.

As autumn's shorter days and longer nights settle in, many family caregivers may notice changes in their loved one's emotional well-being. While it's natural for hospice patients to experience periods of sadness, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can add an additional layer of complexity to their emotional health. As an adult child caring for a parent in hospice, understanding this seasonal pattern can help you provide more effective and compassionate support during the darker months.

When caring for a parent in home hospice, it's natural to focus on their medical needs. And while this is critical, it is also helpful to remember that hospice is focused on giving the patient the best end-of-life experience possible, and we believe that this means more than just making sure they are receiving the right medical care.

Listen in on this exciting interview of Jamie Daugherty, our CEO, on the Doc and Jacques show on KCIW Brookings. You’ll learn about some of Coastal’s history, how Jamie got started in hospice management, and hear how she plans to keep Coastal growing and thriving for many years to come.