Hospice focuses on caring, not curing. Studies show that pain and symptom management is more effective when delivered earlier in the disease process. Hospice is fully covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans and HMOs, and is designed to provide the best quality of life possible for patients whose prognosis leads doctors to believe they will not live past six months. While hospice is often thought of as solely a last option for the dying, patients sometimes improve and can be discharged. Hospice provides comprehensive comfort care and support for the family, but attempts to cure the person's illness are stopped. The hospice team coaches family members on how to care for the dying person and even provides respite care when caregivers need a break. Our dedicated medical team, social worker, chaplain, and volunteers individualize your care to promote quality of life.
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is specialized for those with advanced, life-limiting illnesses and their caregivers, emphasizing the quality of life. It aims to improve comfort and fulfillment for those in the end stages of a disease that cannot be cured. The hospice philosophy recognizes death as the end of life, prioritizing a dignified and comfortable end-of-life experience. Rather than treating the disease, hospice care attends to the person and their symptoms. A team of professionals works together to manage symptoms and allow patients to spend their remaining time with loved ones. Hospice care also includes the patient's family in decision-making.
What are the benefits of hospice care?
The families of patients who received end-of-life care through a hospice program report higher satisfaction levels than those whose loved ones did not have access to hospice services. Compared with individuals who do not make use of hospice care, patients who do so are more likely to have their pain managed and are also less likely to be subjected to tests or given medicines they do not require.
When should hospice care start?
Hospice care is used for advanced diseases like cancer when treatment is no longer effective. It should be considered when a person is expected to live less than 6 months. Unfortunately, studies show that hospice care is often delayed due to misconceptions about giving up hope. However, hospice care can be left at any time to pursue active treatment. It provides hope for a good quality of life until the end, even when very sick. Patients or family members may need to bring up the option of hospice, especially if their doctor doesn't mention it. If treatment isn't working and options are limited, discussing hospice care with the cancer care team or doctor may be beneficial.
Where is hospice care provided, and who gives it?
Hospice care is provided by nurses, doctors, social workers, spiritual advisors, and trained volunteers with special skills. Everyone works together to give the dying person, the caregiver, and the family the medical, emotional, and spiritual support they need.
A hospice team member sees the patient often, and someone is usually there to answer the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Medicare and other insurance companies may pay for hospice care. Check to see if the person's insurance will cover what's going on.
It's important to remember that stopping treatment for a disease that is not getting better does not mean stopping all treatment. A person over 60 who has cancer is a good example. If the doctor decides that the cancer is not responding to chemotherapy and the patient chooses to get hospice care, the chemotherapy will stop. Other kinds of medical care can go on as long as they help. For instance, if the person has high blood pressure, they will still get medicine.
Who's involved in hospice care?
If you aren't getting hospice care in a special facility, staff will make regular visits to your home or another place you are. Hospice workers are available around the clock, seven days a week.
Usually, a hospice care team is made up of:
Doctors. Care will be led by a primary care doctor and a hospice doctor or medical director. Every patient gets to choose their primary doctor. This can be your old doctor or a doctor from a hospice.
Nurses. Nurses will come to your home or the home of a family member or another place to give care. They are also in charge of putting the hospice care team together.
Home Health Aids. Home health aides can help with daily tasks like getting dressed, bathing, and eating.
Spiritual counselors. Chaplains, priests, lay ministers, and other spiritual counselors can help and guide the whole family on a spiritual level.
Social Worker. Social workers give advice and help to people in need. They can also help you find other ways to get help.
Pharmacists. Pharmacists keep an eye on medications and advise on how to treat symptoms in the best way.
Volunteers. Volunteers trained can help with many things, like giving caregivers company or a break and assisting with transportation or other practical needs.
Others Professionals. Speech, physical, and occupational therapists can help if therapy is needed.
Bereavement counselors. Hospices have trained counselors who help people deal with grief after a loved one dies.
Is hospice care as good as treatment?
When first told they have cancer, most people hope for a cure. The care at a hospice is different. When a prescription is impossible, the goal is to make you feel better. When harsh treatments are stopped and symptoms are treated more aggressively, this can make people feel much better. When hospice care starts sooner, most people feel better and can live longer. People can reach their goals with the help of hospice care, like spending less time at the doctor's office and more time with their loved ones.
Just like national standards for hospitals, doctors, and nurses, there are also national standards for hospice care. You can choose hospice care that lives up to high standards.
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Here at From the Heart Home Care, LLC, we have designed a system where:
We provide a superior level of service to patient’s, families, and providers.
We achieve this by adhering to our high level of values while recognizing that you are the expert in your loved one’s health care decisions.
We bring the professionally trained caregivers in direct contact with the patients. Our caregivers visits every client’s home in according to the schedule that fits the needs of the client and family.
We partner with you to design a plan of care that is best suited for you.
We are devoted to serving you with the utmost respect and dignity by honoring your wishes.