- General Page - Tier 1Ethlyn Carroll of Mechanicsville, Md., underwent several surgeries for gynecological cancer in 2021. After feeling unheard by her physician, Ethlyn decided to contact Dr. Monica Jones, chair of Women’s and Children’s services for Luminis Health. “I sought a second opinion, and I am so glad I did. Dr. Jones and her team welcomed me,” Ethlyn says. Dr. Jones referred Ethlyn to radiation treatment at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute (DCI). Instead of driving one hour each way from her home to DCI, Ethlyn and her husband decided to stay at the Hackerman-Patz House, an affordable accommodation option for LHAAMC patients. “Ms. Cati Revelle [manager of the Hackerman-Patz House] welcomed us with open arms,” Ethlyn says. Before starting radiation treatment, Ethlyn had a simulation done by Radiation Therapist Leah Vinson. “She was so warm and loving. I thought this is the way everyone should be treated,” Ethlyn says. Ethlyn and her husband go home on the weekends and enjoy being active members of their church, including through virtual bible study and Sunday service. Ethlyn is also a writer. She is working on her second book of poetry. Throughout this journey, Ethlyn says God and her husband have been her source of strength. “No one can take care of me like my husband, Gary, can.”
- General Page - Tier 2What is a Caregiver? A caregiver is simply someone who gives care to others. Caregiving might involve anything from helping an elderly parent organize their medications to providing round-the-clock care for a disabled child. A caregiver might be the mother of an adult with special needs, a husband or wife caring for a spouse with a chronic illness, or an older adult looking after a sibling with dementia. A caregiver does not need to be a family member. They may be a friend or companion of the person. They may give care 24/7, a few days a week, or on a part-time basis. The Unique Challenges of Caregiving Often, a caregiver doesn't have medical training, though may be expected to: Take on a new role that you feel completely unprepared for. You may never have pictured yourself in this situation, and you're not sure how to handle it. Be available round-the-clock. Be an advocate. Devote large amounts of time, energy, and resources towards managing complex medical care. Caregivers often feel overwhelmed, especially as a loved one's health gets worse. The demands of providing care can feel all-consuming, especially if you're still working, under a financial strain, or have other family obligations. Caregivers may experience stress, anxiety, depression, and physical health problems., At Luminis Health, we encourage caregivers to take care of their own needs as well as those of your care recipient. We address these needs as the “4Ms" — and here are some tips for managing them., Tips for Avoiding Caregiver Burnout Caregiving can take its toll on you emotionally and physically. To be able to take care of others you need to take care of yourself. Identify your support system. Make a list of key people in your life and those of your loved one. These people could be family, friends, neighbors, or members of your place of worship. Keep a visible calendar. It should be large and hung in a place where every visitor can see it. You can track appointments, needs, and visitors. You may want to highlight items or tasks that still need to be covered. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Most people genuinely want to lend a hand, but they don't know what you need. When someone says, “Let me know what I can do to help," give them a specific task (or choice of tasks). If you leave it vague, they won't know how to help — or they may assume you have all the help you need. Make a list of specific activities for helpers. That could include housework, shopping, laundry, delivering meals, visits, driving them to their doctor's appointments or other outings, or simply providing you with a few hours of respite. Schedule daily and weekly breaks. Sometimes just getting out for a couple hours — whether you have coffee with a friend, take in a movie, or go for a walk — can refresh and energize you. Resources for Caregivers Fortunately, there are places to turn to help when it comes to caring for caregivers. Discuss caregiving with medical providers and nursing staff. They can walk you through what you might need to do as a caregiver and can offer access to support groups. For those who are hospitalized, the Luminis Health Expanded Guide for Caregivers and Care Partners discusses the invaluable role of Caregivers as they collaborate with the Healthcare Team, and questions to address prior to transitions home from the hospital. The Maryland Department of Aging and the Alzheimer's Association offer a wide range of support programs for caregivers, as well as legal and financial resources. Connecting with other people in your situation can be invaluable. There are many valuable articles and resources available at AARP caregiving page AARP.org/caregiving , including an excellent overview on Lessons AARP caregiving lessons page Every Family Caregiver Needs to Learn . Other resources include: Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Prince George's County Aging and Disabilities Services National Caregiver Support Program United Hospital Fund Next Step in Care The Conversation Project Video resources for caregivers: Age Friendly Care Defined Age Friendly Care Defined Older Adults & Medication Older Adults & Medication Dementia vs. Normal Memory Loss Dementia vs. Normal Memory Loss Mobility & Preventing Falls Mobility & Preventing FallsIf you have ever been a caregiver, you understand the unique rewards — and challenges — of looking after a loved one. You want to give them the best possible care from day to day, but being a caregiver can often feel overwhelming, lonely, and stressful. At Luminis Health, our goal is to provide support, educational tools, and comfort to caregivers of all ages. Here are some important things to know about being a caregiver.
- ConditionConditions/Services/Treatments PageHow We Manage Pregnancy Complications at Luminis HealthGrowing a whole other life is miraculous, but it's not easy. Pregnancy can stress the body and cause health problems. These health issues can sometimes pose risks to babies too.At Luminis Health, we closely follow your health so we can respond to the earliest signs of complications. This way, we can keep you and your baby safe.
- General Page - Tier 2Definitions: Care Partners – Any person(s) who plays a significant role in an individual’s life. This may include family or a person(s) not legally related to the individual. Family members include spouses, domestic partners, and significant others. Care partners may be individuals with a continued legal, genetic and/or emotional relationship as defined by the patient. Support Person – For patients with disabilities, support persons provide personal, behavioral and/or communication support not otherwise provided in a hospital setting. A support person may be appropriate for, but is not limited to, patients with intellectual, Developmental, physical, or neurocognitive disabilities. A support person may include, but is not limited to a family member, personal care assistant and/or disability service provider. Please see below for visitation in specific areas such as Surgical Services, Labor and Delivery, Mother Baby, Pediatrics, Emergency Department and Outpatient Practices. An adult/guardian must accompany all children.Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) is committed to patient- and family-centered care and strives to provide a safe and healing environment. LHAAMC welcomes care partners and support persons in all areas 24/7, with the exception in Behavioral Health and Clatanoff.All care partners and support persons will be required to wash or sanitize their hands throughout their visit. Patients and visitors who prefer to wear a mask while in our facility may do so. Patients may also request that their care team wear masks.As a patient- and family-centered organization, we will continue to review and update our visitation guidelines and practices as the situation changes. At Luminis Health, our Patient and Family Advisors program allows patients, family members and community members to give input on our policies, programs and practices. These advisors work with our health care providers to support our patient- and family-centered care approach.
- SpecialtyHearing that you need surgery for a brain tumor or spinal injury can be a shock. The specialists at Luminis Health will walk with you through every step of your treatment, no matter your diagnosis. , Why Choose Luminis Health for Neurosurgery? Our neurosurgery department offers innovative treatments covering a range of brain and spinal diseases and injuries. Here's why you should choose Luminis Health for neurosurgery. We're high-tech, but close to home. We offer many neurosurgical treatments found at major academic medical centers, but in a more intimate environment. Because we're smaller, we can personalize service to your specific needs. We're a "one-stop shop." All the doctors you need to see are on one campus, so you don't have to run all over town for your appointments. That's especially important if you're seeing specialists from different departments. We take a multidisciplinary approach. We work closely with the oncology (cancer) department in treating brain tumors. Your care team may also include ICU doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and nurses. Our minimally-invasive surgical techniques require less downtime. We want to get you up and around and back to living a full life as soon as possible. Many of our patients go home a few days after surgery., What to Expect From Neurosurgery Knowing you need brain or spinal surgery can feel overwhelming. But today's surgical procedures are minimally invasive and don't require as much recovery time as they used to. Your specific treatment will depend on your condition, age, and overall health. Here are some things to keep in mind about brain or spinal surgery: You may or may not need neurosurgery for a spinal problem. You can see an orthopedic spine surgeon for some spinal conditions. However, if the problem is intradural — involving the spinal cord itself — you should see a neurosurgeon. You probably won't need to shave your head. The prep team may shave a tiny strip of hair to make an incision. They will make the incision behind your hairline to keep it covered. We get you up and around as soon as possible. The day after surgery, you'll begin working with a physical therapist. Many people can go home as soon as three or four days after surgery. (Of course, your recovery time depends on your condition. Traumatic brain injury may have a longer recovery time.) SRS treatments are done on an outpatient basis. If you're having SRS, you can go home the same day.
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