Medical Ethics: What You Should Know

Today we continue “DRops of Wisdom,” our physician blog, with Dr. Stewart Stein, the associate vice president of medical services for Chapters Health System, who shines a light on medical ethics.

What is Medical Ethics?

One day while walking along a street in Seattle, you discover Bill Gates’ wallet lying on the ground containing $5,000. Would you send it back to him? Or perhaps, it is midnight and has been a long and stressful day at work. As you approach the traffic light a block away from home, it is quiet and there are no other cars at the intersection. Would you drive through the red light?

At some point in our lives, many of us have been faced with an ethical dilemma. Working in healthcare, we are not immune to being faced with decisions. Medical ethics involves the incorporation of a moral code into medical practice. Some may be tempted to simply interpret medical ethics as the practice of treating others the way we would wish to be treated ourselves. However, variations in individual circumstances, values and laws require a more thoughtful approach.

It is generally agreed that there are four key principles in which medical ethics is founded:

• Respecting a patient’s wishes
• Following the basic premise to do no harm
• Contributing in some way to the patient’s welfare
• Providing healthcare with fairness and equality

Posing an Ethical Dilemma

When challenging situations are presented to medical professionals, most will consider these principles automatically. When these principles align, decision making is straight forward. When these principles are in conflict, the healthcare team is challenged. 

Here is an example of a medical ethics dilemma:

An 84-year-old man with severe heart disease has an implanted defibrillator device. It has been firing occasionally as his disease has progressed. He experiences considerable pain when this occurs and had asked the medical team to deactivate the device and allow him to die. Dismayed by his decision, his family persuades him to keep the defibrillator operational. As his condition continues to deteriorate, he becomes minimally responsive and the device begins firing several times a day.  The device is clearly causing pain and is not improving his quality of life according to his physicians.  From the perspective of respecting a patient’s wishes, it would be appropriate to leave the device in an active state. From the perspective of doing no harm and contributing to the patient’s welfare, the correct decision would be to deactivate the device and allow nature to take its course. How should the team proceed? 

At Chapters Health, we have a specific committee in place to discuss at length these types of situations. The Staff Ethics Committee (SEC) is comprised of representatives from all hospice affiliates — Good Shepherd Hospice, HPH Hospice and LifePath Hospice and Chapters Health Palliative Care — and includes nurses, physicians, social workers and chaplains. The make-up of the SEC lends itself to considering each case from multiple perspectives and working with the patient care team to provide guidance and alternatives. When the ethical path is not clear, the SEC is there to help.  

What Would You Like to Read about in Future Posts?

In “DRops of Wisdom,” we want to feature posts with subject matter that interests you. Please leave a comment or email us with your ideas.

At Chapters Health System, every day is devoted to educating our patients and keeping them in the place they call home. We are dedicated to ensuring that patients, young and old alike, and their families are able to make educated decisions about important healthcare matters. For more information, please call our helpful Chapters Health team at 1.866.204.8611 or send an email to info@chaptershealth.org. 

About Stewart W. Stein, MD

As associate vice president of medical services for Chapters Health System, Dr. Stewart W. Stein’s extensive background in end-of-life care and a commitment to the delivery of exceptional hospice services are of great benefit to patients and families.

Famous Medical Ethics Cases

Medical ethics is not something new. Some cases have made headlines and some may not be as familiar. The following are some medical ethics cases that prompt open discussion and offer food for thought.

Tuskegee Syphilis Study

For 40 years, from 1932 to 1972, the U.S. Public Health Service in Alabama studied untreated syphilis in poor African-American men by withholding treatment. Unsuspecting men believed they were receiving free government healthcare when, in reality, they were being infected with syphilis and not being treated. The Tuskegee Syphilis Study stopped only when evidence of the experiments was leaked to the press. Soon after, federal laws were created to prevent history from repeating itself and the Office for Human Research Protections was established.

Bouvia v. Superior Court

Suffering from cerebral palsy and severe arthritis, Elizabeth Bouvia was totally dependent on others for all activities of daily living. In 1983, she admitted herself to Riverside General Hospital in California with the desired wish to starve herself to death. As a result, the hospital inserted a feeding tube against Elizabeth’s wishes, which prompted a legal battle. Ultimately, the courts decided that if a patient was of sound mind, hospitals and other healthcare organizations needed to respect a patient’s wishes.

Charlie Gard

A number of years ago, British-born Charlie Gard became an internationally known little boy due to the debate over who has the freedom to change his life support.

Great Ormond Street Hospital in London requested the permission from the British High Court to remove the 11-month-old from life support based on the premise that he shouldn’t suffer any more from his fatal mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. His parents wanted Charlie on life support in order to try an experimental treatment, nucleoside bypass therapy, which would also require the family to travel to the United States. Both the British High Court and the European Union Court sided with the hospital, and a day after Charlie was taken off of life support, he died.

Remembering Eleanor McKay: Gasparilla Queen

Born and raised in Tampa, the three McKay sisters could not have been more different from one another. Mary Irene, the eldest, was strong-willed. Charlotte “Totty,” the youngest, was always the life of the party. And the middles sister, Eleanor, was the peacemaker. Nevertheless, the sisters were close to one another from both a logistical and personal standpoint. With her diplomatic personality trait, it will come as no surprise that Eleanor would become a member of the royal court as the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Queen in 1937 as well as the inaugural Queen of Cypress Gardens.

The Life and Times of a Gasparilla Queen

Recently, the Gasparilla Queen’s daughter and grand-daughter sat down to share stories about the life and times of the family’s matriarch, who died at the age of 104.

“During World War II, while my father served the country, my mother kept busy serving on the Children’s Home Auxiliary and volunteering with numerous other efforts,” shared Eleanor “Ann” Olmstead. “And every day she mailed a different joke to my father to keep his spirits up.”

Eleanor’s husband, John C. “Jack” Peters, was ultimately stationed in England but helped plan hthe infamous “Doolittle Raid,” named after Lt. Col. James Doolittle. During the April 18, 1942 war skirmish, B-25 bombers took off from the USS Hornet in order to strike targets around Tokyo.  It became one of the most celebrated victories during the war and was even featured in the 1944 award-winning movie titled “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.”

After the war ended, Lt. Col. Doolittle and General Allard periodically came to the Peters’ house for a visit and dinner. “I distinctly remember General Allard’s visits as he was so tall,” added Ann.

Married life was blissful for the Peters until the mid to late 1950s. “My father survived the war only to contract atypical tuberculosis, which led him to be quarantined in the TB hospital in Tampa. At the time, it was located where the campus of Hillsborough Community College is now.”

Times were difficult for Eleanor as she worried about the health of her husband, ran a household and took care of her mother who had moved into her home due to failing health. Thankfully, Jack recovered and family life returned to normal.

Over the years, Eleanor and Jack were quite involved in the Tampa community from a philanthropic perspective. They were primary donors and orchestrated the fundraising efforts for the stadium lights  for the soon to be constructed Robinson High School stadium. Although the school was open, the stadium was not. So Robinson played their “home” games at Plant High School on dates of Plant’s away games.  Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, while heading to the concession stand at a Robinson vs. Lakeland football game at Plant, Jack had a massive heart attack and died. Sadly, Eleanor was sitting in the stands at the time. The Robinson High School stadium currently remains named “Jack Peters Field” in his honor. 

“After the death of my grandfather, my grandmother basically became a single parent and went to work. She was able to keep the family company afloat with some help,” Michele Craig went on to say.

Later in Life

Despite the bad things that happened to her, Eleanor was always able to focus on the here and now — enjoying life to the fullest. She remarried two other times: William “Bill” Maurer and Harry Morris when she was in her 70s.

“My grandmother or GG, as she was affectionately known to the younger members of the family and friends, inspired so many with her inviting presence, impeccable grace, humor and kindness,” continued Michele.

Both Ann and Michele related a story that was quintessential Eleanor. “After her last surviving sister died, my mother decided it was time to purchase a burial plot and create her headstone. She was about 82 at the time. After meeting with the stonemason, my mother had the man make her tombstone. She included the following quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson: ‘I am a part of all I have met.’ My mother wanted to list all the names of her husbands, but also made it perfectly clear that her spouses had all died … she never divorced,” said Ann.

Michele continued with a giggle, “On the headstone, my grandmother demanded that a space be left underneath Harry Morris … just in case, she married a fourth time.”

Hospice Care in the End

For the most part, Eleanor remained healthy until she became a centenarian and the side effects of the aging process caught up with her.

“In the end, we wanted my mother to be as comfortable as possible with what time she had left in this world. Thankfully, she was admitted to the inpatient unit at Tampa General Hospital, where the staff helped in ways that I could not,” confessed Ann.

“Honestly, I was worried about how my mother would be able to care for my grandmother. The hospice staff members are the experts in guiding people at the end of life. My grandmother had the peaceful end to her life that she deserved,” added Michele.

Room 12 at the LifePath Hospice inpatient unit at Tampa General Hospital will always be fondly remembered as Eleanor’s Room, Gasparilla Queen.

At Chapters Health System, every day is devoted to educating our patients and keeping them in the place they call home. We are dedicated to ensuring that patients, young and old alike, and their families are able to make educated decisions about important healthcare matters. For more information, please call our helpful Chapters Health team at 1.866.204.8611 or send an email to info@chaptershealth.org. 

About Phoebe Ochman

Phoebe Ochman, Director of Corporate Communications for Chapters Health System, manages all content and communications for the not-for-profit organization.

History of Tampa’s Pirate Invasion

Across the United States, there are parades that traditionally take place at various times throughout the year: New York City is known for its Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and skyscraper-high balloons, Pasadena for the Rose Parade and its floral floats and lastly Tampa for Gasparilla and its pirate invasion.

Outsiders and newcomers to the area often wonder about the origins of the annual event. The tradition of Gasparilla can be traced back to the 18^th century when a rogue by the name of José Gaspar wreaked havoc in Tampa Bay by seizing and robbing ships with his merry band of pirates. Their escapades continued until the pirates decided to retire from thievery. The last heist perpetrated by Gaspar and his crew was laying siege to an incognito U.S. Navy ship, which needless to say did not end well for the pirates.

Over the years, the legend of José Gaspar grew. In 1904, the Tampa civic community made the decision to create a celebratory event to commemorate the naval victory over the pirates. In the beginning, meetings were held in secret in order to create a pirate crew of masked marauders who would be responsible for surprising the residents of the city on horseback. These night riders birthed the first Gasprilla krewe, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.

Today there are more than 50 krewes that participate in the pirate invasion of Tampa Bay. Gasparilla festivities include a reenactment of the Tampa Bay invasion by the scallywag, José Gaspar, sailing into the bay on his fully-outfitted pirate ship. The mayor is forced to relinquish the keys to the city, the pirates take over and all sorts of shenanigans ensue.

Additionally, Gasparilla is not limited to one parade and one day. The week before the invasion and main parade there is the Gasparilla Children’s Parade. Two weeks after the weekend of Gasparilla, there is the night parade — also known as the Sant’Yago Illuminated Knight Parade taking place in Ybor City. And lastly, throughout the first couple of months of the year the Gasparilla Distance Classic, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, the Gasparilla Music Festival and the Gasparilla International Film Festival take place.

Dispelling Cervical Cancer Myths

George Orwell once said that “myths that are believed in tend to be true.” In today’s society, everywhere you look there are myths and misconceptions about a variety of topics. So in honor of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January, we are tackling the topic of cervical cancer myths in order to set the record straight.

Top 5 Cervical Cancer Myths

Myth #1: Cervical cancer can’t be treated.

According to Dr. Ronald Schonwetter, chief medical officer at Chapters Health System, if detected and diagnosed early, cervical cancer can be treated effectively. Thus, it is very important to have routine preventive screenings even if no symptoms are present.

Myth #2: Older women don’t need Pap smears.

All women, who are 21 years or older, need periodic and regular Pap smears until the age of 65. After that age, women should discuss with their physicians the risks and benefits of ongoing screening based on their specific circumstances.

Myth #3: The Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is not common.

HPV is common and the most important risk factor for developing cervical cancer. It is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact and bodily fluids. It is estimated that approximately 80 percent of Americans will contract HPV sometime during their lifetime. Oftentimes, people don’t experience any HPV symptoms, such as visible genital warts, and thus may never know they had/have HPV. Women learn that they contracted HPV when their screening test comes back positive. An abnormal Pap test can be related to HPV, but many times physicians don’t relay this information to their female patients. Therefore, many women do not know or understand the link between HPV and cervical cancer and hence the development of the cervical cancer myth.

Researchers Ian Frazer and Jian Zhou at the University of Queensland first developed a vaccine to prevent HPV in 1991. It was then patented in the United States, and introduced as a tactic to combat HPV spread by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Today the CDC recommends that the vaccine be given to preteen girls and boys at age 11 or 12. The reasoning behind this recommendation is that these children will be protected before ever being exposed to HPV. This vaccine is actually a series of two vaccines given six to 12 months apart. If given over age 14, three shots are needed over a six-month period.

Myth #4: Women with cervical cancer can’t have children.

When a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer, the typical treatment regimen is a hysterectomy and/or chemotherapy and radiation and so this cervical cancer myth was born. However, there are newer options that can still allow a woman to have children if the cervical cancer is caught at an early stage and she is at low risk. For instance, conservative surgery’s primary aim is fertility preservation. Nevertheless, if the treatment course is chemotherapy and/or radiation, women are encouraged to freeze eggs, and even embryos, before they start treatment.

Myth #5: Cervical cancer runs in families.

Most people know that breast cancer and ovarian cancer have a hereditary component. The same is not true with cervical cancer. A mother or sister with cervical cancer does not increase a woman’s chance of developing this disease unless there is a family tendency to inherit the inability to fight off HPV infections.

At Chapters Health System and its affiliates—Good Shepherd Hospice, HPH Hospice and LifePath Hospice, every day is devoted to educating our patients and keeping them in the place they call home. We are dedicated to ensuring that patients, young and old alike, and their families are able to make educated decisions about important healthcare matters. For more information, please call our helpful Chapters Health team at 1.866.204.8611 or send an email to info@chaptershealth.org. 

About Phoebe Ochman

Phoebe Ochman, Director of Corporate Communications for Chapters Health System, manages all content and communications for the not-for-profit organization.

Latest Cervical Cancer Statistics

With the designation of January as cervical cancer month, awareness of this form of cancer has grown significantly over the past 20 years. How so? It is due in large part to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, whose mission is to help women, family members and caregivers battle the personal issues related to cervical cancer and promote prevention through community education.  

Years ago, cervical cancer was one of the most common types of cancer that resulted in death for women in the United States. With the advent and increase in usage of Pap tests, the cervical cancer death rate decreased dramatically due to much earlier diagnoses.

How has this screening test helped? Before cancer even starts to develop in the cervix, a Pap test can recognize subtle changes. And if cervical cancer has started to evolve, this screening test identifies the change earlier on, when it’s easier to treat and cure.  In 1971 when President Nixon signed the National Cancer Act and introduced the federal mandate “war on cancer,” the five-year survival rate for women with Stage 0 cervical cancer was less than 50 percent compared to a 93 percent five-year survival rate today.

In 2018, the American Cancer Society estimated 13,240 new cases of invasive cervical cancer would be diagnosed and about 4,170 women would die from cervical cancer in the United States. Today, cervical pre-cancer is identified more often than the invasive form of cervical cancer.

Who is At Risk?

If you are a woman between the ages of 35 and 54, you are most at risk for developing cervical cancer. It is rare in women younger than 20. Nevertheless, older women need to understand that they aren’t without risk as well. In fact, the rate of new cases of cervical cancer in women over the age of 65 is almost 20 percent of all new cases diagnosed. In looking at ethnicity, Hispanic women are the population with the highest rates of cervical cancer. They are followed by African Americans, Caucasians and Asians.

There are several factors that can increase a woman’s risk in developing cervical cancer.

Risk factors are:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV): Over the last couple of years, there has been an increase in spreading the word about this most important risk factor for cervical cancer. Some individuals who are not able to rid their body of HPV develop a chronic infection, which greatly increases their risk of developing cervical cancer.
• Chlamydia: This common bacterial infection gravitates to a woman’s reproductive organs. Like HPV, this infection is spread via sexual contact and most women do not experience any symptoms. According to a study published in JAMA, research confirmed a high risk of cervical cancer in women who had past or current chlamydia infections, which were then verified by blood tests and cervical mucus.
• Weak immune system: As with other forms of cancer, a weak immune system puts individuals at high risk due to the fact that the body isn’t able to destroy or slow the growth and spread of cancer cells or infections such as HPV.
• Smoking: Any woman who smokes tobacco puts herself at almost double the risk of developing cervical cancer. Studies have demonstrated that the by-products of tobacco damage the DNA in the cervix. Smoking also can weaken the immune system in fighting HPV infections.

Remembering a Buffalo Soldier

It’s a sunny day and what better way to soak up the warm rays than to kick back on a beach and enjoy some classic reggae music, courtesy of Bob Marley and the Wailers. The boombox is blaring “Buffalo Soldiers,” and you get caught up in the lyrics and the meaning behind the words. Written as a protest song, Marley wanted the song to bring attention to the role of the buffalo soldiers who were African-American cavalry fighters during the American-Indian Wars starting in 1866. These valiant men were a smattering of former slaves, freemen and African-American Civil War soldiers.

Meaning Behind the Term Buffalo Soldier

With each passing military skirmish, the regiments comprised of African-American men simply became known as buffalo soldiers. But why did this particular nickname stick? There is actually some controversy with regard to the origin behind the name.

Everyone agrees about how the regiment developed. After the Civil War, trailblazers moved west of the Mississippi to settle the land. These settlers were escorted by African-American members of the 10^th Cavalry, who happened to be responsible for safe passage through territories populated by Native American tribes. During this time period, soldiers were paid $13 per month, which was the best option available after the Civil War for African Americans. But here’s the juncture where the name origin starts to diverge.

In the winter of 1877, warriors from the Cheyenne tribe coined the name, which actually translates to “wild buffalo.” According the founder of the regiment, Colonel Benjamin Grierson, the Apache nation chose ‘buffalo soldiers’ because the men had curly, kinky hair like bison. But other sources claim the nickname evolved out of the fierce fighting ability of the 10^th Cavalry regiment. No matter which story you believe, buffalo soldiers became the term used to describe all African-American military men throughout U.S. history.

World War II Veteran Honored

Military veterans are important threads in the fabric of this country. They should always be honored and revered for their patriotic service to the United States. One such veteran acknowledged by many local and even national organizations for his bravery and valor was Elmer Vincent Sublett. Enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces in 1940, Elmer served during World War II as a member of an elite buffalo solider fighting group.

At Chapters Health System, we recognize the unique needs of America’s veterans and their families. In partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, we offer the We Honor Veterans program at its highest designation, Level Four.

As part of the We Honor Veterans program, our volunteers provide a unique connection to other veterans at the end of life. Veteran volunteers can provide companionship by:

• Listening to patients as they reminisce
• Recording their stories
• Documenting their stories in a Legacy booklet
• Helping connect to the Veterans History Project
• Honoring veterans in pinning ceremonies, which provides gratitude and appreciation for time served

Ninety-eight-year old Elmer was honored with a military honor pinning in his home in Valrico, which was performed by LifePath Hospice Spiritual Care Coordinator Bruce Souder. Shortly after this ceremony, Elmer’s daughter invited Bruce to attend another celebration service that featured a special presentation from Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn as well as one from the Tampa Bay area Buffalo Soldiers motorcycle riding group.

Interested in Volunteering?

If you are a veteran and have a few hours a month to help support other veterans at the end of life, please consider becoming a volunteer for Chapters Health at any of our affiliates — Good Shepherd Hospice, HPH Hospice  and LifePath Hospice — in Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties. It’s as easy as filling out an application; just click here.

At Chapters Health System, every day is devoted to educating our patients and keeping them in the place they call home. We are dedicated to ensuring that patients, young and old alike, and their families are able to make educated decisions about important healthcare matters. For more information, please call our helpful Chapters Health team at 1.866.204.8611 or send an email to info@chaptershealth.org. 

About Phoebe Ochman

Phoebe Ochman, Director of Corporate Communications for Chapters Health System, manages all content and communications for the not-for-profit organization.

Starting New Holiday Traditions

Do you have any family holiday traditions?  Perhaps every year on Christmas, every family member had to attend dinner in an ugly holiday sweater? Or maybe if you practice Judaism, young and old alike went to the movies on Christmas and then ordered Chinese takeout? And as far as New Year’s is concerned, perhaps you always watched the ball drop in New York City from Times Square on television and then immediately called your parents to wish them a healthy, happy new year? No matter what your religion or cultural background, family holiday traditions can be meaningful.

But what happens to your holiday traditions if a loved one has died since the last celebration? Do you keep the holiday tradition alive even if you are struggling with grief? Or do you skip the holiday tradition all together? What should you do?

Understanding Grief

There’s a saying that explains why grief can be so difficult: “As much as you love, it’s as hard to heal.” Grief is an internal process. There isn’t a cookie-cutter approach to handling grief, and invariably it will be different for different people — even within a family. And around the holidays, familial differences can be even more pronounced.

Grief can affect every aspect of our lives. It can be difficult to:

• Feel joy from those activities you previously enjoyed (called anhedonia)
• Sleep, which in turn can compromise your health
• Remember simple tasks
• Socialize and so you shy away from friends
• Pray as you start to question your spirituality
• Let yourself cry

It is totally natural to flip flop across an array of emotions. It can even be cyclical and change depending on what phase you are in your life. Nevertheless, we all have a natural ability to heal our psyche.

Ideas for New Holiday Traditions

If this is your first holiday since the death of your loved one, you don’t have to stick to old family traditions. Feel free to give yourself permission to change it up this season. Nothing prevents you from going back to tried-and-true holiday traditions when you (and your family) are ready.

If the family lost a parent, try making something special with the kids. Give them choices and get them involved. Children are flexible and can adapt to change, sometimes more readily than adults.

When we think of grief, the conjured image is often dark. Therefore, try adding color throughout the house, even in unexpected ways. Instead of candy and chocolate, keep a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter. When you walk by the bowl, reach for brightly colored fruit rather than an unhealthy food choice like potato chips.

Holidays are also a good time to memorialize and remember a lost loved one.

• Light a candle.
• Put out a place setting for the person who is gone.
• Plant a tree.
• Create a butterfly garden.
• Donate to a cause that meant something to your lost loved one.

Do whatever makes you and your family feel better during the holidays.

At Chapters Health System and its affiliates—Good Shepherd Hospice, HPH Hospice and LifePath Hospice, every day is devoted to educating our patients and keeping them in the place they call home. We are dedicated to ensuring that patients, young and old alike, and their families are able to make educated decisions about important healthcare matters. For more information, please call our helpful Chapters Health team at 1.866.204.8611 or send an email to info@chaptershealth.org.

About Phoebe Ochman

Phoebe Ochman, Director of Corporate Communications for Chapters Health System, manages all content and communications for the not-for-profit organization.

Holiday Grief Tips

Grief, especially holiday grief, is like an elephant in the room.

Here are some holiday grief tips that can help.

Communication: Like with almost every aspect of life, communication is important. If you are feeling guilty about not having the holiday spirit and possibility letting others down, share your thoughts. Your feelings are yours and yours alone. If there is disagreement in the house and within your family about the holidays, talk and be honest. Discuss what you’d like to do and what will be too difficult. Compromise goes hand in hand with communication.

Holiday decoration: When the holidays roll around, there are numerous decisions to make, especially when it comes to decorating. Do what is best for you. It is your option whether you decorate like you have in the past or scale it back this holiday season.

Attending holiday parties: Keep in mind that it is entirely up to you whether you attend a holiday party. If you decide to attend, talk to the host  before the party so you can find out if there’s a place you can go should you need to take a moment for yourself. Additionally, try driving yourself to the party. This way, if you need to leave early, you are not depending on another individual. You can leave when you’ve had enough holiday cheer.

Gift giving: In the past, gift selection and giving was something you always looked forward to and was always rewarding. But what if this year you can’t face leaving the house to go shopping? Solution: You can always shop online or grab gift cards for the recipients on your list.

Holiday food preparation: Food preparation during the holidays can be a landmine of emotions, especially with the loss of the family matriarch. If this sounds familiar, try splitting the cooking and baking responsibilities., or purchase your favorite prepared foods from a local restaurant  or grocery store.

Hydrate: Grief can leave you dehydrated whether you shed tears or not. When a person becomes dehydrated, short-term memory can be affected adversely. So drink plenty of water.

Start a journal: Writing your emotions can help you process what is going on inside your head. Journaling is ongoing support for you — paper or computer —it’s your way to express yourself.

Permission to be sad: During the holidays, it’s okay to give yourself permission to be sad. The same holds true for kids. Allow yourself the opportunity to grieve and cry. On the flip side, if something makes you happy or laugh, go for it.

Over the years and during future holiday seasons, you will probably experience grief bursts, which can be triggered by a million different things: It could be a song, smell, photo or memory. It’s a reminder to us all that we’re human, and we remember the deep bond and love of our lost loved one with our entire being.

Holiday Travel: 7 Tips to Make Your Trip Stress Free

The holidays are here, which often means time to holiday travel for some of us.

When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind? Do you picture a Thanksgiving table laid out with a large turkey, stuffing and family-favorite side dishes? Or do you conjure up wrapped gifts for Christmas and Hanukkah? Or are you of the mindset to associate the holiday season with ringing in the New Year with a glass of champagne while the Times Square ball drops to close out the year?

No matter what came to mind when closing your eyes and thinking about the holidays, most of us will agree one of the best things about the holidays is spending time with loved ones.  Even if you need to travel long distances by car, train or plane to be with them, it is well worth the time and effort. Unfortunately, the enjoyable can sometimes be accompanied by the stress of holiday travel. Never fear as we have some holiday travel tips so you can take advantage of every precious moment with as little aggravation as possible.

Holiday Travel Tips

The following are seven tips to help make your holiday travel as stress free and enjoyable as possible.

Tip #1: Don’t overpack. During holiday travel, there is nothing worse than getting to the airport, having your suitcase weighed and then being told your bags are over the weight limit. Talk about embarrassing as you start removing items curbside. Instead, try packing light with neutral-colored top and bottom choices, which can be mixed and matched for a number of different style options.

Believe it or not, with just a few stylish and timeless pieces, you can create enough combinations to last for more than your allotted days for holiday travel. If you pack clothing in the white, navy, black or tan, bring along eye-catching jewelry and brightly colored scarves for variety. If you need inspiration, there are many resources on Pinterest and from travel fashion bloggers.

Tip  #2: Use packing cubes. If you still can’t quite make the leap of faith by paring down your clothing for holiday travel, try using packing cubes.

What are packing cubes? Packing cubes are small bags designed to organize clothes and other items when you travel. Some were even created with a compression option to make sure you can take advantage of every nook and cranny. For people with over-packing tendencies, a packing cube is a game changer and lifesaver. And an added bonus to using these cubes is they can also make unpacking easy — just slide them into the drawers where you are staying.

Not sure where to begin? There are many how-to videos on YouTube to get you started.

Tip #3: Bring items with multiple purposes. Whether you are traveling for the holidays or a much-needed vacation, you don’t need to bring everything in your bathroom and closet. Why not bring a 3-in-1 shampoo/conditioner/body soap? Or if you just can’t be without your favorite body lotion, funnel an ounce into a small container or use a contact lens holder to store moisturizer and eye cream.

Instead of packing different shoes for each outfit, think about how sneakers or supportive flats can serve multiple purposes. And it is always a good practice to wear your heaviest shoes if you are flying to your destination.

Tip #4: Avoid packing wrapped gifts. Despite the fact the Travel Security Administration (TSA) does allow wrapped gifts, it is not an encouraged practice. Why? Well, TSA staff might determine a gift seems suspicious, and you might be called upon to unwrap said present.

The following are some alternatives:

• Wrap gifts when you arrive at your destination
• Mail gifts ahead of time
• Purchase gift cards

Tip #5: Pack a foldable extra bag. Whether holiday travel is to your hometown or a new destination, you might very well bring back items not packed originally in your luggage. And who wants to shove souvenirs or gifts back into your suitcase and hope they don’t break? Instead, pack an extra foldable bag or even backpack, which stays flat and compact heading to your travel destination and is available just in case the need for additional space should arise.

Tip #6: Protect bottles containing liquids from spilling. If you have liquids stored in the standard TSA quart-size clear Ziploc bag or even squirreled away within your checked luggage, here is a trick to prevent spillage. Before putting the cap on your bottles, cover each with a small piece of plastic wrap. The added layer of protection seals the liquid in its container as long as you tightly close the cap. It is also a good idea to bring a little extra wrap. And always pack additional Ziploc bags as they can be used in a number of different ways:

• Storing wet clothes
• Covering dirty shoes
• Carrying snacks

Cover hair tools. Even though your holiday travel destination — whether house or hotel — might very well have a hairdryer or other styling tool, you might still decide to bring your own from home. Add to the mix using said tool right before you head out the door and the dilemma about what to do about your hot hair styling tool.  There’s a simple solution: Cover the hot tool with an oven mitt, which will prevent other items in your suitcase from getting scorched as well as keep everything clean.

At Chapters Health System, every day is devoted to educating our patients and keeping them in the place they call home. We are dedicated to ensuring that patients, young and old alike, and their families are able to make educated decisions about important healthcare matters. For more information, please call our helpful Chapters Health team at 1.866.204.8611 or send an email to info@chaptershealth.org. 

About Phoebe Ochman

Phoebe Ochman, Director of Corporate Communications for Chapters Health System, manages all content and communications for the not-for-profit organization.

Getting Home for the Holidays

At Chapters Health System and its affiliates — Good Shepherd Hospice, HPH Hospice  and LifePath Hospice — we help patients with life-limiting illnesses get home for the holidays, no matter where they call home. We constantly strive to make sure patients are surrounded by family, friends and even pets, which can provide much-needed comfort.

Our programs and services help make this possible and here’s how:

• Round-the-clock hospice admissions along with HospiceHelp24®, an after-hours call service staffed by our own nurses 24/7/365
• Home visits no matter what day or time
• Emergency medication kits
• Equipment and medications related to a patient’s hospice diagnosis
• Short-term, round-the-clock care at seven hospice houses inHernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties and one inpatient unit at Tampa General Hospital
• Bereavementsupport programs focused on coping with grief during the holiday season for children and adults
• Volunteerswho can help fulfill final wishes, record/transcribe life stories, provide respite to stressed caregivers, or simply add an extra touch of love and support

For more information on how Chapters Health and its affiliates can help patients enjoy meaningful moments during the holidays at home, please call us at 1.866.204.8611 or send an email to info@chaptershealth.org.