Monarch Hospice of Oklahoma

06/22/2026

We’ve been busy over here at Monarch Hospice of Oklahoma! From job fairs, facility events, and most importantly CNA appreciation week - our staff is rocking it! 🦋💜

06/11/2026

The Family Caregiver Nobody Sees

When we think about caregiving, we often picture the tasks.

Managing medications.
Preparing meals.
Attending appointments.
Helping with bathing, dressing, and daily care.

But there is another side of caregiving that often goes unseen. The daughter who lies awake at 2 a.m. wondering if she's making the right decisions. The husband who quietly learns how to provide care for the person who once cared for him. The son who rearranges his work schedule to make it to appointments while trying to hold everything together for his own family. The spouse who smiles during visits but cries in the shower where no one can see.

Family caregivers carry an enormous weight—physically, emotionally, and mentally.

They often put their own needs aside: miss meals, lose sleep, postpone their own medical appointments.

They worry constantly about doing enough, saying enough, and being enough.

One of the most important lessons hospice has taught me is that when we care for a patient, we are also caring for the people who love them.

Hospice isn't just support for the individual facing a serious illness.

It's support for the family caregiver nobody sees.

To every family caregiver reading this:

💜 You are making a difference.
💜 You are stronger than you know.
💜 You do not have to do this alone.

Sometimes they need our support just as much as the patient does.

At Monarch Hospice of Nebraska, we understand that even the most devoted family caregivers sometimes need additional support. That’s why we collaborate with trusted private duty caregiving partners who can provide assistance with personal care, companionship, respite, and daily tasks when the demands of caregiving become overwhelming. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness—it is a way to ensure both the patient and caregiver receive the support they deserve.

06/02/2026

One of the most common concerns I hear when discussing hospice care is:

“Does morphine speed up the dying process?”

The answer is no.

When used appropriately in hospice care, morphine is a comfort medication designed to relieve symptoms—not to hasten death.

Many people associate morphine only with pain management, but it is also one of the most effective medications for relieving shortness of breath. For patients living with advanced heart disease, lung disease, cancer, and other serious illnesses, morphine can reduce the sensation of air hunger and help them breathe more comfortably.

Hospice clinicians carefully assess each patient and use the lowest effective dose needed to manage symptoms. The goal is not to shorten life, but to improve quality of life by reducing suffering and allowing patients to focus on what matters most—time with family, meaningful moments, and comfort.

Education is one of the most important parts of hospice care. When families understand why medications are used and how they work, fear is often replaced with reassurance.

Comfort care is not about giving up.

It is about ensuring that no one has to suffer unnecessarily.

As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to continue educating our communities about what hospice truly is—and what it is not.

05/20/2026

✨Monarch Moment ✨
We had the privilege of sharing a truly special moment with one of our patients. After several visits hearing about his love for birds — especially owls — we became just as excited to meet some as he was! Thanks to our amazing chaplain and some wonderful friends, that wish became a reality.

The smiles, the wonder, and the joy of seeing something that held such deep meaning for him and his family was unforgettable. Moments like these remind us how powerful connection can be. These wonderful creatures had a remarkable way of easing the pain, grief and for a little while - bringing comfort in ways words sometimes cannot.

We are honored to show up every day and show others that hospice can be so special! Our dear patient passed not long after this day. Just like anyone we care for, the memory of his smile and the amazement in his eyes will stay with us forever!

05/20/2026

“Nurses bring comfort, care, and buckets of smiles”
We are so thankful for our wonderful nurses and their smiles🦋🩺

05/07/2026

Excited to kick off nurses week and spend time celebrating our wonderful nurses! 💜🦋

Nurses are such a vital part of what we do! They provide compassion, care, and support to our patients and families throughout their journey. They also bring amazing guidance and expertise to everyone on our team!

Thank you this week and everyday to all the nurses who were called to serve and care for others! You are our hero’s, life savers, and so much more!

04/20/2026

04/20/2026

Volunteer Opportunities Available ✨

Meet our dear volunteer, Karlea! She is our amazing office volunteer that always ensures we have materials ready to go for new patients. We can also count on her to bring joy and laughter to the office!
She often shares how good it feels to help out and be needed 💜

If you’re looking for an opportunity to give back, be a part of something fun, or contribute to providing quality support to families/patients - don’t hesitate to reach out! We are always looking for more volunteers to join our team🦋

More ways to volunteer:
- companionship visits
- Veteran to Veteran connection
- Pen Pals
- Call support for patients / families
- and more!

Please reach out to [email protected] or call 539-202-1500

04/11/2026