4/28/2007 9:13:00 PM
Laughlin hospice reaches out
Service area includes Kingman, Golden Valley, Chloride, Dolan Springs
| |
|
 |
| Joe Kuhn relaxes at home with Jenny Girl, a 15-year-old terrier mix. He has been a New Hope Hospice client for three months. TERRY ORGAN/Miner |
|
Terry Organ
Miner Staff Reporter
KINGMAN - Joe Kuhn is living a better quality of life and keeping his medical problems under control, thanks to New Hope Hospice of Nevada in Laughlin.
"I lived in Sun Ridge Village (in Bullhead City) for a year prior to moving to Kingman in November and if it were not for New Hope, I'd probably be back in that assisted living facility," Kuhn said.
Kuhn has worked as a certified nursing assistant in geriatrics for Hallmark Medical Center in Garden Grove, Calif., CNA for St. Francis House, a live-in hospice facility in Long Beach, Calif., and he was a social worker for a time in Anaheim, Calif.
He was an Evercare patient while living at Sun Ridge Village and heard about New Hope from his case manager, Denise Hardin.
Lisa Galindo, human resources director, said New Hope Hospice is a sister branch to National Hospice Management in Arnold, Mo. The Laughlin branch serves patients in Kingman, Dolan Springs, Chloride, Golden Valley, Fort Mohave, Mohave Valley, Bullhead City and Needles, Calif.
New Hope Hospice was founded in 2000, said Randi Kashnig, regional manager of market development. The agency is staffed with registered nurses, CNAs, a medical director, bereavement support help, counselors, a pastor and volunteers.
"We're a Medicare-certified hospice program," Kashnig said. "We're one of just three hospice organizations serving Arizona permitted to work with the Veterans Administration and have contracts with commercial companies."
New Hope Hospice delivers end-of-life medical care to patients in the advanced stages of a terminal illness. Its goal is to provide care with compassion, focusing on pain management and symptom control, while providing comfort, dignity and better quality of life.
Kuhn's medical conditions include Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema and lower lumbar disc disease.
He was running a temperature of 101.7 degrees one day with accompanying neuropathy so bad it felt like his arms were being crushed, he said. A nurse immediately responded to his call, contacted the hospice medical director and got him medication to alleviate the pain.
"New Hope Hospice brought in all the oxygen, including a concentrator and B tanks, so I can breath 10 times better," Kuhn said.
"They paid for my medication, and if there's anything I don't have, they quickly get it, so my life now is a lot less stressful. It's not just the medical care they provide, but also the love. That's the most important thing."
Kuhn said he receives a skilled nursing home visit once a week and can get more help immediately with a phone call. New Hope Hospice also arranges transportation for him to see an AIDS specialist and pulmonologist about once a month in Las Vegas.
Paulette Trimble, Kuhn's sister, works for Angels on Duty and is his caregiver.
"We have nurses available 24/7," Kashnig said. "If Joe feels he is not getting enough oxygen, one of our nurses comes out in the middle of the night."
Barbara Buckholz also is grateful to New Hope Hospice. Bob Buckholz, her husband of 47 years, died Nov. 3, about one month after becoming a client.
Bob had never been sick until being diagnosed with cancer of the right lung in April 2006. He went to his doctor with a little pain in the shoulder.
The doctor suspected a pinched nerve, but an X-ray of the neck area disclosed a mass atop the right lung, Barbara said.
"We went to Dr. (Robert) Matheny (Kingman pulmonologist) soon after, and he took more X-rays," she said. "We could tell by the look on his face it was not good.
"A biopsy of the lung was done, and it was conclusive for cancer that was malignant. Dr. Matheny said he had maybe a year to live with radiation or chemotherapy."
The couple did not initially feel that hospice care was warranted. However, they applied after finding out it would cover the cost of expensive pain medications.
Buckholz said New Hope Hospice provided "anything and everything" needed by her husband.
New Hope Hospice may be contacted at (702) 298-4673 or toll-free at (866) 335-4673.
|
Posted: Friday, May 08, 2009
Article comment by:
Alice Gibson
We are in urgent need of in home nursing care/Hospice in Big River CA. Your agency may be able to help. Please contact me ASAP. Thank you. Alice Gibson
Posted: Monday, February 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
to dezi how are you today im not doing so well i still dont understand how you people can treat a person as sick as i am the way you do i have not done anything to mess you people up you know my foot is bad still dont have any antibiotics for it everyday it gets a little worse i would like the papers to file a grievence and i wish i could get more respect out of hospice than what i,ve recieved would like to talk to you longer but i am in to much pain to continue ill try to talk to you more please send the grievence papers thankyou donald crane
Posted: Monday, April 30, 2007
Article comment by:
Bob Buckholz Jr.
I enjoyed your article on the hospice care in the Kingman area. It was my father in the article that received the excellent care from the nurses.
I know that in his final days, he was not the only one appreciative of the hospice care that he received. My mother held dear the care and the amount of help the nurses provided to both my father and to her.
I have just lost another to cancer, a dear friend here in Delaware. The hospice care here also provided her and her husband with care that both needed.
Next time you see one these fine professionals, tell them what a fantastic job they do for these families and the patients they care for.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Bob and Pam Buckholz
Milford, DE
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
