Fairfield Cares

05/14/2026

Do You Need More Than a Will?

No one likes planning for the end, but if you don’t, someone else will decide what happens to you and your assets. Here are key points to consider:

1. Will: While a will is essential, it’s just the start. It’s crucial for all adults, as the biggest fights often occur when someone dies suddenly without one, sending the estate to probate.

2. Trust: A trust provides instructions for managing your money and assets privately, avoiding probate and court involvement.

3. Advance Directives: In case of sudden incapacitation, advance directives determine who makes decisions on your behalf.

4. Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA): Choose a trusted agent, not necessarily a family member, to handle your health and financial decisions.

Start planning when you don’t need it, especially after significant life changes like a new marriage. Discuss your wishes with your family so everyone is aware of their role.

For more information, visit www.drlizgeriatrics.com

05/14/2026

When I tell people what I do, the response is almost always the same: “How can you do that, it must be so hard.” I understand why they say it, because what I do is hard.

Working in end-of-life care means bearing witness to death. I have been present for over one thousand last breaths, and for just as many last goodbyes. Many people reading this know that experience; and many others cannot imagine it. But just like any calling, any profession, any skill, we are each shaped for something unique. We all carry gifts that allow us to stand in places others may not be able to. I am not the only one.

What I want people to understand, though, is that I don’t just see death or grief. I witness culture, ritual, and faith that often leaves me in awe. I see the kind of strength people draw from belief systems I am still trying to fully understand. I see complicated family dynamics too, some tender, some painful, and I remind myself that my role is not to fix, but to honor what is present. And sometimes I see relationships so full of love that a part of me aches, because I never had that. Yet even in that ache, I am comforted by knowing such love exists.

What I see, over and over again, is love, every shade, every expression, every way a human being shows up in the face of the inevitable. I see how people react, how they lean in, how they prepare themselves for the mystery of what comes next. I am not just invited to be present for the most fragile, most intimate, and most personal part of life, I am trusted to be there, and that means everything to me.

Death opens the door to the deepest parts of who we are, our traditions, our faith, our sorrow, our tenderness, our love, and in witnessing it all, I am shown life.

So no, I don’t just see death, I see life, and I am grateful every day that I get to witness this.

xo
Gabby
Hospice/palliative care nurse, end-of-life doula

www.thehospiceheart.net

05/14/2026

Victory for disability rights in Indiana! - We’re pleased to share that Attorney General Todd Rokita has withdrawn Indiana from Texas v. Kennedy—a lawsuit that challenged key protections under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Thank you to the organizations, families, and self-advocates who share in this victory. We are grateful to the attorney general and his staff for the careful attention they devoted to hearing our shared concerns over the past several months. Their openness to listening thoughtfully to people with disabilities, families, and the broader disability community showed a genuine commitment to understanding every perspective before making this final decision.

The Attorney General’s decision underscores the core principles of Section 504 and Olmstead v. L.C., that people with disabilities should have the opportunity to live, work, and participate fully in their communities. Maintaining a strong system of community-based services is consistent with federal law and Indiana’s decades-long transition away from institutional care.

The Arc looks forward to continuing its work with the Attorney General and other state leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to strengthen supports for people with disabilities and to uphold the principles of inclusion, independence, and community integration.

Read our full statement here: https://www.arcind.org/?p=24475

05/11/2026

May is Arthritis Awareness Month 🧡

Arthritis is the #1 cause of disability in the United States, affecting nearly 1 in 4 adults. It can make everyday activities like walking, working, and staying active more difficult than they should be.

But arthritis doesn’t have to define your daily life. With the right care and support, there are ways to manage symptoms, improve mobility, and keep doing the things you love.

At Jefferson County Health Center, our team is here to help you understand your symptoms and explore your options.

Start with a conversation.

📞 Main Hospital: 641-472-4111
📞 Fairfield Clinic: 641-472-4156
📞 Richland Clinic: 319-456-2058
📞 Ottumwa Clinic: 641-215-8201
📞 Professional Clinic: 641-469-4204

Source: Arthritis Foundation
https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/arthritis-awareness-month

05/08/2026

What to know.

05/08/2026

05/07/2026

One of the biggest mistakes families make with dementia is trying to reason with behaviours that the brain can no longer control.

Punishment does not work.
Arguments do not work.
Logic often does not work.

A person with dementia may cry out repeatedly, refuse care, pace the house, or become angry over simple tasks. Often, they are frightened, confused, bored, overstimulated, in pain, or trying desperately to make sense of a world that no longer feels safe.

Before jumping to medication, ask:

* Are they in pain?
* Are they lonely or bored?
* Are we rushing them?
* Is the environment overwhelming?
* Are they hungry, tired, or uncomfortable?

Sometimes slowing everything down helps more than anything else.

Simple routines.
Gentle voices.
Meaningful activities.
Compassion.
Patience.

Love and empathy go a very long way in dementia care.

Learn more caregiver guidance and support:
https://www.drlizgeriatrics.com/

05/07/2026

Join us for a monthly support meeting.