Jan
10
What is Hospice, Anyway?
Filed Under Kansas City Hospice
Rather than a place to receive medical care, hospice is an approach to medical care for patients nearing the end of life. Its goal is to enhance the quality of life for patients with terminal illness. Hospice focuses on pain management and symptom relief, while addressing the patient’s emotional, social and spiritual needs—as well as those of family members. Hospice lets patients and families share the end-of-life experience with dignity and, in most cases, in the comfort of their own homes. Each person entering a hospice program gets an individualized care plan. This plan is developed by a team of professionals and volunteers working with the patient and family members. Depending on the patient’s needs, the team may consist of the patient’s primary care physician, a hospice physician (or medical director), nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy, trained volunteers and speech, physical and occupational therapists.
Why Choose Hospice?
A patient with a life-limiting illness may reach a point where he or she no longer responds to treatments aimed at curing the disease. At that time, the physician may recommend a shift in focus from curing the disease to making the patient as comfortable as possible. This shift toward palliative care is “comfort-oriented” rather than “cure-oriented.” It is medical treatment that seeks to control symptoms and manage pain.
When the physician’s estimation of the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less, hospice care often is the best option. Although some hospice care is administered in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospice centers, and inpatient settings, approximately 80 to 90 percent of hospice services occur in the patient’s own home. That’s partly because advances in technology have made it possible to operate much medical equipment in a home setting. It’s also because hospice team members and volunteers are available to provide services, as needed, including
- Pain and symptom management
- Assistance with the emotional, psychological, social and spiritual needs
- Drugs, medical supplies and equipment
- Training for family caregivers
- Speech, physical and occupational therapy
- Arrangements for respite care
- Bereavement counseling for surviving family members and friends
- Help with day-to-day chores and activities of daily living
- Experienced counsel for end-of-life decisions
- 24-hour on-call availability
Click here to get your FREE copy of The Consumer’s Guide to Hospice Care, an invaluable resource for families looking to get quality care for their loved one while legally protecting their assets.
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