Welcome to Gunnison County Seniors online! There is so much going on this month- Please take time to visit the calendar section for all kinds of events and special programs that might be of interest to you.

Questions about Palliative Care?

Curative treatments are the mainstay of traditional medicine, palliative care is compassionate care for people with progressive, chronic or life threatening illnesses. Caring for the whole person invloves the body, mind and spirit, as well as caring for and supporting those who live with and care for the ill. This is especially important for individuals who are near the end of life.

The mission of the Palliative Care Program is for a diverse, specialized team to assist patients and families impacted by a chronic, progressive, life-threatening illness by providing emotional, physical, spiritual and clinical support while focusing on quality of life issues.

Controlling pain and other discomfort in a progressive illness is critical to the patient’s care. Palliative care can be a bridge between the patient, the patient’s primary care physician and specialist to assure the patient gets help when needed.

What kinds of cases could benefit from palliative care?

• Recurrent hospital admissions for advanced illnesses, such as COPD and heart failure
• Difficult symptom management compromising the patient’s ability to continue treatment
• Conflict among patient and family regarding illness management or treatment course
• Lack of response to curative therapies and changing goals of care
• Consideration of hospice care
• Spiritual distress and loss of hope

A palliative care consult is available to anyone facing a progressive, chronic, or life-threatening illness. Palliative care will support you as you redefine your goals while faced with an illness.

For more information about Palliative Care, call Hospice and Palliative Care of the Gunnison Valley at (970)641-4254 or click here to visit their website.

Health Care Directives:

If this caught your eye, you are either thinking of making a health care advance directive (such as a living will or durable power of attorney for health care), or you may have already signed one. In either case, you should be aware that just having a written advance directive by itself does not ensure that your wishes will be understood and respected. Studies have shown that standard advance directive forms do little to influence end-of-life decisions without: 1) informed, thoughtful reflection about your wishes and values, and 2) personal communication between you and your likely decision-makers before a crisis occurs.

The Commission on Law and Aging has created a tool kit available on their website with detailed instructions.  To view the tool kit, click the American Bar Association’s website.

Colorado Baby Boomers: Challenges and Opportunities (2008) - A publication from the Colorado Trust
This look at the state’s 55- to 65-year-old population provides insights into how senior-serving organizations and agencies can better plan, prepare and address the needs of the growing number of Coloradans approaching retirement. This sizeable group - nearly half a million strong - offers unique opportunities to communities, employers and charities through their considerable knowledge, skills and enthusiasm. At the same time, there are significant challenges that require change and adaptation to provide aging boomers with adequate health care and coverage, employment, education and service opportunities.  Click here to view/download this report in PDF format. Click here to request a complimentary printed copy.

We also publish “The Senior Scoop”each week in The Gunnison Country Shopper - Gunnison’s local free newspaper.  The Senior Scoop includes up-to-date information on local events, services available for seniors, health, safety & wellness tidbits and much more.  Pick up a copy and check out page two of The Shopper to read the Scoop, or visit The Shopper’s website for on-line version of this great resource.