Finding hospice sooner is a common wish amongst our patients. WV Caring is well known for providing the highest standard of hospice care for the past 37 years. Known for taking on the complicated diagnoses that others won’t, WV Caring is ready to serve the most difficult situations. Within the first 48 hours of care, the pain and symptoms will be under control and the stress will be greatly reduced. Then the pain and symptoms are managed so our patients live more comfortably and fully for as long as possible.
We address the emotional and spiritual aspects to relieve the burdens patients and loved ones have during the end-of-life journey. Our families are supported through the process through caregiver education, 24 X 7 availability, respite if needed and grief and loss counseling during and after the death of the loved one. Our compassionate staff goes above and beyond to ensure your loved one’s dignity is honored and their wishes are known.
We know it isn’t easy, but you don’t have to feel alone. So, when your loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, know that with WV Caring, you will have the expertise and resources you will need to help you through this most difficult time. It’s all designed to make a loving, memorable end-of-life experience for our patients and families.
Betsy Pyle and her family had the chance to receive the care and support from our care team and feel as though hospice care is needed sooner rather than later. Learn more about her story and how we cared for her husband, Jamie, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
MEET BETSY AND HER FAMILY
Betsy and Jamie Pyle were happily married with an adopted son named Wesley.
“Jamie had a great smile. He could light up a room. He just had an easy manner about him. That was the thing that really drew me to him. We ended up getting married six months after we met,” said Betsy.
She continued talking about their son, Wesley, “He was everything we had ever hoped for, and he made our family a family.”
For over 20 years, Jamie was the Associate Dean for Medical Education at a medical school.
JAMIE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE
“Around 2008, Jamie started commenting on how he felt that his gate had changed. That he couldn’t walk normally. He found himself tripping during normal walking around. He decided he was going to contact a neurologist he knew,” said Betsy.
After a year passed, Jamie received a diagnosis that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. According to the ALS Association, ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The effective functioning of your motor nerves and voluntary movement become diminished over time.
“And that was definitely a crushing blow, and we knew that there was no cure,” Betsy continued, “Wesley and I tried to be the primary caregivers. It was just really important for us to remain as a family unit here at home.”
Betsy called our team at WV Caring to further assist with caring for her husband with the hopes of giving him quality end-of-life care.
HOW WV CARING HELPED BETSY AND HER FAMILY
“It’s always hard to lose somebody you love. But when you are faced with having to walk down that path, to have the support of WV Caring helped my family experience the things we went through as we lost my husband.”
At WV Caring, our goal is to help you and your loved one spend as much time as possible together doing the activities they love. We understand how challenging this situation can be, and we want you and your loved one to focus on what matters most for you. Our 24/7 attentive care team is here for you every step of the way with valuable care. When finding hospice sooner rather than later, we can offer more for your loved one in this time of need.
“We were very happy that WV Caring provided that support that we needed, in terms of being able to give advice on how to handle situations that arose, medication that was needed and visiting was one of the main things Jamie looked forward to.”
WV Caring offers services to wherever they call home, which includes:
- Medical care from nurses and personal care by your certified nursing aide
- Social workers to help with emotional and financial difficulties
- Pain and symptom management to make the patient feel comfortable
- Medical equipment, medications, supplies needed about the illness
- Trained volunteers
- Spiritual care for the patient and family members
- Grief and loss counseling
Your entire care team and support is overseen by our Medical Director who is Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care.
“All of the support services that I saw put into practice helped me and I know comforted my husband too.”
Also, our services are covered in the Medicare Part A benefit with no out-of-pocket costs for the patient.
“He was always happy to see someone from WV Caring. They just tried to keep up with what was going on in our family, not just come in and record things in a medical chart and leave.”
We believe that hospice care should be an essential discussion made by the whole family when considering the final stages of their loved one’s life. Some people aren’t sure when the right time to consider hospice should be, though. In our humble opinion – the sooner, the better.
Getting quality time with your loved one before they pass is precious and shouldn’t be taken from you, if possible. WV Caring strives to make the most out of the time you have together.
“I learned a lot helping Jamie through his disease. People should open their arms to hospice care much sooner.”
Losing a loved one is a tough part of life. The grieving process is personal and different for each person. We address this process while the patient is under our care to address the immediate needs of the patient, along with their whole family.
“Grief begins long before someone passes away, and it’s important to have that emotional and social support that WV Caring provides for the family, not just for the patient. It definitely made a difference for all of us.”
And that warms our hearts. We care for each patient and family with the unconditional support that we can provide.
HOSPICE CARE | WV CARING
“Hospice is really about living life to the fullest while you’re alive and not focusing on the end of life,” said Betsy.
We agree, and hospice care is an excellent option of care for your loved one. Whether you are living with a progressive, advanced illness or you are caring for someone who is, we can make the complexities of this situation easier and better for you and your loved one. It’s never too early to look at your options. Please, remember that finding hospice sooner rather than later is essential for your loved one’s end of life journey. You can call us anytime to discuss your situation.
Contact us today to request more information about care: 1-866-656-9790.