When a loved one is experiencing a terminal illness, it can place emotional, spiritual and financial strain on both the patient and their family. Hospice can ease these burdens by providing a supportive and trained staff that will offer dignified care, financial counseling and spiritual support during this difficult time.
What is Hospice?
Hospice is a holistic, non-curative approach to care, which focuses on easing pain and making the patient’s last days as comfortable and worry-free as possible. Each family who chooses hospice will receive a plan tailor-made to their own individual needs.
Hospice works in a team environment. Each family is offered the support of a primary care nurse, home health aid, social worker, spiritual counselor and bereavement coordinator. This caring team works with the patient’s attending physician and other support staff as needed.
For those patients needing routine home care, hospice provides access to all necessary medical equipment and medications at their place of residence be it a home, apartment, assisted living facility, nursing home or hospital. In the event of a crisis situation, where care can not be managed at home, the patient will be transferred to inpatient care.
Since caring for a terminally ill family member is a twenty-four hour commitment, hospice offers respite care to those family members who need an understandable reprieve for the attention to and maintenance of their own health.
Financial Relief
In addition to providing the medical and spiritual support needed during this critical time, hospice care offers relief of financial strain for those patients who would otherwise need frequent hospitalizations and expensive medical procedures. Care provided at home can save a significant amount of money on transport and inpatient services.
When to Use Hospice
Hospice is recommended to patients who have decided to forego curative attempts or who have been told by their physician that further curative attempts would be futile. Those patients wishing to stay in the comfort of their own familiar surroundings during their remaining days can do so with dignity when provided with hospice care. Those patients experiencing a life-limiting illness and chronic pain may benefit best from this type of care.
Families who are struggling financially and who are concerned about immediate access to doctors during weekends and holidays may find hospice care a welcome relief.
The end of life is a difficult and often overwhelming process for both the loved one and their family. Hospice offers a way to make this transition easier by offering the support you need.
Sources:
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/FindingandPayingforTreatment/ChoosingYourTreatmentTeam/HospiceCare/index
http://www.webmd.com/balance/tc/hospice-care-topic-overview
