Allow me this, my last days. One thing is certain from the time we come to this earth:
One day we will leave it.
We know not when, we know not how, or where, or with whom, but in the end, we all go.
Some go too soon, some go too late, some die with others, others die alone.
A few go quickly in their sleep.
Some suffer, some smile, some say why me?
For many, it is a place of darkness and fear.
But it need not be.
This is the ultimate mystery of life.
May I find hope and love and healing in this, the evening of my life,
And ultimately be blessed with a Peaceful Passing.
Sharon Tapper, MD
I have a passion for helping those with serious illness and their loved ones. After losing family members to cancer, I experienced a life-threatening illness. I decided to switch my focus from General Internal Medicine to Palliative Care.
Palliative care is a medical specialty specifically designed to serve those with serious illness who may be too well for Hospice care (in the USA), or who may be seriously ill, but do not want Hospice care.
Hospice care is designed for those with an estimated prognosis of 6 months or less.
My goal is to provide an extra layer of support to people and their loved ones facing serious illness. I will help navigate this crucial time in your life and/or in the life of your loved one.
This navigation will occur through virtual scheduled meetings. The initial consultation will help to determine the cadence and need of future contact.
I can help with:
Understanding the diagnosis of you or your loved one and what current and future needs might be.
Emotional support
Resources for caregiving – what insurance does and does not cover and how to get reliable caregivers, as well as support for caregivers.
How to pick a high-quality home health, nursing home, or hospice care agency.
Information about Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), (Euthanasia)
The financial impact of being seriously ill
How to fill out papers so that your wishes for care are known and who might make medical decisions for you if cannot.
Family conferencing to help with decisions around care of you or a loved one.
Suggestions on how to leave a legacy.
How to talk with your doctors and useful questions to ask.
How to navigate the healthcare system to meet your needs, including symptom management, psycho-social, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Palliative Care is care that focuses on helping seriously ill people and the people who support them (family and friends). It offers an extra layer of support to a person and their care team. This support can help with the social, emotional, spiritual and/or physical issue that can arise when facing a life-threatening illness. Palliative Care can occur at any time in someone’s life journey.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and that of their families who are facing challenges associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychological, social or spiritual. The quality of life of caregivers improves as well.
Each year, an estimated 56.8 million people, including 25.7 million in the last year of life, are in need of palliative care.
Worldwide, only about 14% of people who need palliative care currently receive it.
In the United States, hospice care is an organized delivery model for people with a life-expectancy of 6 months or less. It is covered by Medicare and by most insurance plans. The care team includes doctors, nurses, social workers, bereavement counselors, volunteers and many times home health aides and other services. Your regular doctor can be involved in your care. Most people on hospice care have a goal of comfort focused care at home. Hospice care services can be delivered at home, in a nursing home or in the hospital.
What is HOME CARE in the United States?
If you require care but are not sick enough to be in the hospital, you may qualify for home care. Home care helps people in their own homes with the support of professional caregivers who provide essential non-medical assistance. This care can assist with personal hygiene, dressing and undressing, mobility and transportation, rehabilitation regimes, and more.
In the United States, if you have Medicare, to qualify for home care, your doctor or allowed provider certifies that you need one or more of these: intermittent skilled nursing care (other than drawing blood), physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, continued occupational therapy, home health aide services.
Medicare doesn’t cover home health aide services unless you’re also getting skilled care. Home health aids help with bathing, dressing, feeding, etc. Skilled care includes skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, continuing occupational therapy.
Medicare does NOT cover: 24-hour care at home, meals delivered to your home, services, like shopping, cleaning, and laundry, custodial or personal care like bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom (when this is the only care you need).
For many Americans, it comes as a shock when they realize that Medicare will not cover 24. Hour care at home unless there’s a skilled need. Home care can be very expensive.
The National Hourly Average cost for Home Health Aides in 2024 is $29.50 per hour or $59,000 for 250 days per year! Some people have lower costs if they have Long Term Care insurance. If you qualify for Medicaid (Medi-Cal) you may get some paid home health coverage. Each state has its own set of programs for this paid in-home care, and they all have different names and eligibility requirements
Once upon a time, in a far-off kingdom, there lived a woman named Aurora. Aurora was known throughout the land for her beauty and kind heart. However, she had a secret. She had been given a spell by a fairy, granting her eternal life. (created by Open AI and modified by ST)
John is 88 years old. He’s had prostate cancer for years and has received many treatments. These included surgery, radiation, and medications. The doctors say he may not be well enough to receive any more active treatment.
Peter is a retired history professor from an Ivy League university. He is married with 2 children who attend college. He’s always been a happy person and has no history of depression. He has a large extended family who have always been supportive.
Testimonials
I had never interacted with a palliative care physician and did not know what to expect. Dr. Tapper provides holistic advice; not only about medical conditions but about how to communicate with people suffering from illness, how to address their spiritual needs, emotional needs, and support for their loved ones. She also attends to pragmatic concerns about how to retrofit a home for safety and comfort and find qualified care. I can’t recommend Dr. Tapper more highly; you will have an advocate by your side when you engage with her services.
RS
When a loved one passes, having the support of an empathetic, brilliant, caring, compassionate and knowledgeable doctor like Sharon Tapper at your side is an invaluable gift. I recommend highly that you avail yourself of Dr. Tapper and her expertise if your loved one is seriously ill.
GMO
Resources
Handout for Patients and Families-describes Palliative Care
Family Caregiver Alliance- help for family caregivers of adults with physical and cognitive impairments, such as Parkinson’s, stroke, Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
Once upon a time, in a far-off kingdom, there lived a woman named Aurora. Aurora was known throughout the land for her beauty and kind heart. However, she had a secret. She had been given a spell by a fairy, granting her eternal life. (created by Open AI and modified by ST)
John is 88 years old. He’s had prostate cancer for years and has received many treatments. These included surgery, radiation, and medications. The doctors say he may not be well enough to receive any more active treatment.
Peter is a retired history professor from an Ivy League university. He is married with 2 children who attend college. He’s always been a happy person and has no history of depression. He has a large extended family who have always been supportive.