Hospice Care: What All Do You Need To Know?

Why So Afraid of Hospice Care?

Do you know someone with a severe disease with a prognosis of six months or less to live, if the disease runs its ordinary course?

Have you been worrying about making the transition from medical care to end of life care?

Do you feel that you have reached your limit as a caregiver, or are you unsure about what a patient will go through during their end of life journey?

Are you trying to break the cycle of returning again and again to the hospital or emergency room? Have you seen how a life-limiting illness has diminished your loved one’s quality of life?

Do you want to do something about this? To move from treating an illness to caring for a person?

Hospice is a philosophy of care!

One that reduces the burden of medical care so patients and their families can focus on what truly matters, i.e. their time together.

Over the years, we have learned that when a patient is no longer able or no longer wants to treat their life-limiting illness, their priorities change. What is important now is to find a way to experience the best quality of life.

Many people find that hospice is the correct answer for them or their loved ones. Hospice has been designed to meet the specific needs of patients and families during the end of life journey.

Hospice Gives You a Team That You Cannot Assemble On Your Own

A terminally ill patient and their family often deal with a complex mix of physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. It has been found that the best way to address all these different needs is with a team of skilled professionals trained in end of life care.

Most families would find it impossible to assemble such a team. So, hospice does the task for them. These skilled professionals work closely with the family and amongst each other to optimise care at every stage.

Hospice Gives You The Support You Need

When a patient is receiving hospice care, this interdisciplinary group develops a plan of care. Using the program, the team coordinates regular nursing visits, assistance with personal care such as bathing, and emotional, social and spiritual support.

Prescriptions related to pain and comfort are delivered to the home along with all other durable medical equipment and supplies such as a hospital bed, nebulisers, walkers and more.

Hospice Takes On Burdens So You Can Spend Quality Time With Your Loved One

In general, hospice will assist in any way it can to make care as convenient and safe as possible. As a result, you will have more energy and opportunities to spend quality time with your loved one.

Hospice Guides You Through Expected And Unexpected Issues

Hospice strives to make patients as physically comfortable as possible while making the most of the remaining time. Yet, the end of the life journey affects more than just the body. It touches all areas of a person’s life as well as their family.

Patients and their families face new stresses, which can trigger fear, anxiety or depression. Hospice professionals help you deal with emotional, social and spiritual issues.

Some of the problems brought on by a critical illness are practical such as financial strains, job-related issues, insurance or legal issues.

Hospice can help with advice on how to handle these practical hardships too.

Hospice Care is Provided Where Most People Prefer – The Place They Call Home

It is essential to know that hospice is not a place; it is a philosophy of care. If given a choice, most people would prefer to be at home when they are ill.

It is no different for people with a terminal illness. So, almost all of the hospice care is delivered in the home.

For different patients, their home may be their private residence or a loved one, an assisted living centre or a skilled nursing facility.

There are times when the patient may need personalised care.

There are several reasons why a patient may be admitted to a hospice inpatient unit.

When a patient has symptoms or pain that is difficult to be treated safely at home, or the patient requires careful supervision only available in a medical facility.

Once stabilised, hospice centres can transport the patients to their home to continue their care.

What is the Role of The Plan of Care?

Using the information from the assessment, an interdisciplinary group of hospice professionals develops a care plan that spells out what the family can expect.

The care team is usually made up of physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, specially trained volunteers and spiritual care providers.

With the family, the team schedules regular nursing visits, assistance with personal care and emotional and spiritual sessions.

Is Choosing Hospice A Permanent Decision?

Although most people who enter hospice stay through the end of life, hospice is not always a permanent choice.

For example, if your kidneys are failing, you may choose a hospice program rather than continue with dialysis. But you can still change your mind. Stop hospice care and start back on treatments.

Other people may get better unexpectedly and quit the service with the option of returning later.

What Happens During The Final Days At Home?

When a patient begins to show symptoms that their final days are near, the team will adjust the level of home visits to meet the needs of the patient and their family.

Once the patient passes, the staff will assist with final details and paperwork and provide bereavement support to the family.

Bottom Line:

The fact that you are exploring hospice is a very positive sign. It means you are considering what is the best for a loved one and their family. The philosophy of hospice is to provide support and care so that people with a life-limiting illness may live as fully and comfortably as possible.