A Happy and Long Marriage Often Leads to Better Health

Can a spouse help their significant other go through hospice care?

Can a spouse help their significant other go through hospice care?Absolutely. Plenty of research has shown that happily married couples have better health than their unhappy counterparts. This can certainly extend to couples in hospice care as spouses with a strong relationship can better weather the ups and downs of the end of a person’s lifespan.

This blog post will not only discuss research done at the University of Missouri, but it will reveal three reasons why a husband or wife can help their partner going through hospice care.

How Happy Marriages Help Couples in Hospice Care

According to researchers affiliated with the University of Missouri, couples in happy marriages are shown to have better physical and mental health than people who are widowed or divorced.

While the research didn’t study couples in hospice care specifically, it can certainly affect people in this trying stage of their marriage. This is because happy couples who are emotionally stable are much better equipped to handle one half’s terminal illness. 

Obviously, a spouse being placed in hospice care is not a happy occasion for either the couple, their family or friends. The emotions of the patient, their spouse, children and friends are certain to be all over the spectrum. This situation will be hard for even the happiest couples. However, couples who have made an art of staying together through thick times and thin have the mental, physical and emotional equipment needed to weather this period in their lives. Simply put, happy couples are better able to navigate what is sure to be a tricky, confusing, and downright maddening experience.

3 Reasons Hospice Patients Need Their Spouses

  1. The Importance of Loved OnesAs a hospice patient nears the end of their life, many of them want to spend as much time as possible with their spouse, family and closest friends. Spending time at home with the people who are closest to them can do a lot to soothe patients who are making peace with their lives. Whether your spouse is spending precious moments with their grandchildren, discussing their friends’ latest vacation with them, or talking about the weather with you, it’s important to make this seminal period free of drama but full of meaning and love at the same time.
  2. Self ReflectionAll patients in hospice care are going to spend ample time in self reflection. Whether your spouse will want to share this all-important task with you and their loved ones, or do it on their own through journaling or other means, ensure that you do everything you can to let them go through this emotionally fraught experience without guilt or shame.
  3. Care in a Loving EnvironmentWhen your spouse is in hospice care, it is often necessary that they will have to receive care from unfamiliar nurses and aides in your home. In this trying time, many hospice patients may get frustrated with having strangers in their home when all they want is to be around the people that they love. Our nurses, aides and physicians are sensitive to the needs of their patients, and they are more than willing to work around the schedule and personal desires of you and your spouse.

    Remember the research that said that happy couples are healthier? Even if your spouse isn’t in robust health, a happy and healthy relationship can make what is often a terrifying, emotional rollercoaster much more palatable to both parties. While the research has proven that happy couples thrive in health, they can also prosper in sickness.

There are plenty of benefits to involving a husband or wife in their partner’s hospice care. From providing love and support every step of the way to allowing their spouse to say their piece in the way they see fit, a spouse can be the person who makes this stage of the hospice patient’s life packed with meaning and love.


VNA & Hospice is dedicated to providing the highest quality healthcare to residents of the Central Coast and Monterey County. Registered nurses and skilled staff members provide many services, including senior home care, hospice health care, palliative care, orthopedic rehabilitation, and more.


preventative steps to avoid the Zika Virus

Preventative Steps to Avoid the Zika Virus Here and Abroad

Important steps to take to protect oneself.

The Zika Virus has been a real concern for those who live in or travel to areas where lots of mosquitoes are present. While it hasn’t been widely spread throughout the United States yet, there are still some important steps to take to protect oneself and their family from contracting the virus. When traveling to countries where the virus is prevalent, one must be extra cautious to avoid infection. It’s also important to understand some basics about the virus and exactly how the it spreads to ensure that proper precautions are taken.

No Treatments of Vaccinations, yet.

The Zika virus wasn’t a concern until recent years and most people had never heard of it before. It’s spread mostly from the bite of a certain species of mosquito, the Aedes, which bites during the day and night. The virus can also be spread by men through unprotected sex. The virus can cause serious birth defects in children born to mothers infected with the virus. It can also be very serious for those with weak immune systems like young children and seniors. As of right now, there are no treatments or vaccinations for Zika. It has recently been found in a certain area of Miami but is mostly concentrated in Central and South America.

Prevention

To prevent the virus, it’s most important for pregnant women to avoid going to infected areas if at all possible. When traveling in areas where Zika is common, you should wear long sleeve shirts and long pants to protect the extremities. Clothing should be light colored, which will not only help you see any mosquitoes that may land on you, but can also help keep you cool in these warmer climates. Always carry a quality bug spray and use it often, as directed. For children, be sure to apply the spray regularly. When using spray with young children, don’t spray anywhere near the mouth, nose or eyes, and don’t use these sprays with children under 2 months of age. Always apply your insect repellent over sunscreen if you’re using both.

If you are camping, sleeping outside or visiting one of the areas where Zika is present, you should always use a mosquito net. These are affordable and easy to carry with you. They help to surround you at night for added protection. Keep windows closed when possible and use screens when windows are open. When you return home after traveling to an infected area, you should closely monitor your health for any symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain or red eyes. Many people who contract the virus will have very mild symptoms or none at all. It’s important that you talk with your doctor about the virus as it can be spread from an infected person to other mosquitoes and then other people. The test for Zika is a simple blood or urine test. 

If you live in an area where Zika has been found, you can do some things around the home to deter mosquitoes from nesting and staying near your house. Remove any planters, pots or other things that provide standing water for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. If you have a large container that can’t be removed, and won’t be used for drinking, you can treat it with an product designed to prevent the hatching of mosquito eggs. If you see mosquitoes near your house, a spray designed for outdoors will kill many of them. There are also plants that deter mosquitoes that you can plant in your yard if you prefer a non-chemical solution.

Staying cautious can help you avoid the Zika virus. The best way is to simply not travel to infected areas. This is especially true for women who are currently pregnant or are trying to get pregnant in the near future. If you must travel to these areas, take the previously mentioned steps to protect yourself and avoid bringing the virus back to areas that weren’t previously dealing with a Zika problem.


VNA & Hospice is dedicated to providing the highest quality healthcare to residents of the Central Coast and Monterey County. Registered nurses and skilled staff members provide many services, including senior home care, hospice health care, palliative care, orthopedic rehabilitation, and more.