A word about hospice
Hospice care treats the person rather than the disease. Hospice is a philosophy of care. Hospice philosophy recognizes death as the final stage of life and seeks to enable patients to continue an alert, pain-free life and to manage other symptoms so that their days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by loved ones.
Hospice care is appropriate when you can no longer benefit from curative treatment and your life expectancy is about 6 months. Hospice care has several elements that set it apart from other health care.
Typically a health care team of doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, home health aids, clergy, therapists and trained volunteers care for the patient. Together they provide comprehensive palliative care.
Spiritual Needs:
Hospice care emphasizes spiritual needs of the patient and his family. Spiritual care is individualized to meet different spiritual needs and beliefs. Spiritual advisors are there to provide religious ceremony or rituals regarding the death process.
Home care and Patient Care:
Hospice care can be centered in the home, hospital, extended-care facility or in an inpatient hospice facility. 90% of hospice services provided in the United States are provided in patient homes.
Respite Care:
Family and caregivers may need a break from the intensity of care-giving. Hospice offers them a break through respite care, which is provided in 5 day periods to care for the patient in an inpatient facility while the family care-givers take a rest.
Family Conferences:
The hospice nurse or social worker schedules family conferences periodically so family members can stay informed about the patient’s condition and what to expect. Family conferences are a chance to learn about the death process. It can provide families support and stress relief.
Bereavement Care:
Bereavement is the time of mourning following a loss. Surviving family members are helped through this process through visits, phone calls, etc. by trained volunteers, clergy or professional counselors. Bereavement support is provided for a year to 13 months after the patient’s death.
Coordination of Care:
The interdisciplinary team coordinate and supervises care 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This team is responsible for communicating between the inpatient facility, home care agency, physician and other community professionals such as pharmacists, clergy and funeral directors.
