Thank you! In answer to your question, I did not know what Terri’s wishes were. That’s why I wrote the book, to encourage more people to put their wishes in writing so that loved ones will know. After twenty years of working in long-term care I know how very important it is for families to have conversations about the healthcare they would want under tragic circumstances. However, conversations are easily forgotten, and wishes change over time, and as we saw with Terri’s case, conversation is not enough to keep private matters out of the legal system. I would encourage anyone to take a look at my book, “My Life, My Care, My Way” and judge for yourself if it’s the right tool for you. It’s a tool designed to address living-until-end-of-life issues, not simply end-of-life issues. As for what anyone else wished for Terri, I choose to not stand in judgement of what I can not possibly know.
........................
For the complete story, see this week's print
All of us appreciate our independence; cling to being recognized as individuals.
In a recently-released book by Mt. Lake native, Paula Harder Kenemore, that independence, and that individuality, is found in the title, My Life, My Care, My Way.
The fill-in-the-blank workbook, published in 2007 by Lake Effect Media, deals with a topic not always in the forefront of our minds — an advance personal care plan.
Asks Harder Kenemore, “If I were unable to communicate tomorrow, who would know me well enough to care for me, the way I would care for myself?
“We plan for many things in our lives: weddings, careers, families, retirement, travel and financial security, yet we do not plan for our own advanced age, or for life after injury,” she continues.
However, from the moment we are born, we start to age, beginning an uncertain journey into the future.
Harder Kenemore’s book is a guide to answering questions caregivers may have about an individual’s care, and allows for the answers to those questions to be provided through each individual’s own words — even if unable to communicate those wishes.
Realization of the need
Harder Kenemore dedicates the book to the memory of Terri Schiavo.
Schiavo was a Florida woman who suffered brain damage and became dependent on a feeding tube after collapsing in her home on February 25, 1990, and experiencing respiratory and cardiac arrest.
After 15 years of institutionalization and a diagnosis of persistent vegetative state, her husband and guardian, Michael Schiavo, petitioned the Pinellas County Circuit Court to remove her feeding tube.
Robert and Mary Schindler, Terri Schiavo’s parents, opposed this, arguing she was conscious.
The court determined that Schiavo would not wish to continue life-prolonging measures.
The battle stretched on for seven years and included involvement by politicians and advocacy groups.
The local court decided on March 18, 2005, that her feeding tube could be removed.
Schiavo died at a Pinellas Park, Fla. hospice on March 31, 2005, at the age of 41.
The circumstances surrounding Schiavo’s life and death inspired Harder Kenemore to create a more complete tool for individuals to communicate healthcare wishes.
Using this workbook, families and caregivers will always know what is in an individual’s heart, even if that heart no longer has a voice,” said Harder Kenemore in explanation.
Personalized, compassionate, and quality long-term healthcare is the passion on which Harder Kenemore has built her career over the past 20 years.
She received a bachelor of science degree in speech communication from Minnesota State University, Winona and the University of Wisconsin, Superior. Harder Kenemore is curently pursuing her master’s degree in gerontology at Bethel University in Minneapolis.
She holds her certification in activity consulting from the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals. She has worked as an activity director and consultant, spiritual care coordinator, and volunteer coordinator for the two largest nursing home corporations in the country and has participated in “Culture Change” training through Action Pact, Inc.
Harder Kenemore has also proviced services as an independent dementia care specialist for the Minnesota-North Dakota Northern Regional Chaper of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Her career began at the age of 16 when she began work as a nursing assistant at the Good Samaritan Village in Mt. Lake.
With a strong desire to improve end of life care for the elderly Paula has created a six-hour spiritual care workshop for spiritual and healthcare professionals and is the creator of many unique spiritual programs designed for nursing home residents and their families.
In addition, she is the founder and C. E. O. (chief executive officer) of B.O.L.D. Transitions whose mission is to Build Older Lifestyles with Dignity through educational workshops for family and clients, staff training and consulting, and speaking events based on the importance of advance care planning.
When not at work in the healthcare industry Harder Kenemore enjoys spending time with her husband, Tom and their three children, Nick, Cassie and Alex. The family makes their home in Moose Lake. please contact B.O.L.D. Transitions at (218) 428-6586 or email her at paula@bold-transitions.com.
edition of the Observer/Advocate, or
click here to
subscribe to our NEW eEDITION!
Handling the journey into your future
8mm