What is Hospice?
Hospice care is a special kind of care that focuses on the quality of life for individuals and their caregivers that are experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness. Hospice provides compassionate care for people in the last phases of incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortable as possible.
Types of Hospice Care
Routine Hospice Care
Routine hospice care is care in which the multidisciplinary team makes visits to the patient and caregivers. skilled nursing, hospice aide, social workers, chaplain services, volunteers will make visits. Additionally the patient will receive medications, durable medical equipment and supplies that is covered under the hospice benefit. all services are rendered under the supervision of a physician licensed in the state that services are provided.
Inpatient Care
When pain and symptoms become unmanageable, inpatient care can be ordered. Inpatient care is defined as short term care and provided within the confines of a hospital, skilled nursing facility or hospice facility in order to stabilize the patient before returning to the home environment.
Continuous Care
There are times when both pain and symptom management cannot be controlled, but the patient decides to stay in the home setting. when this occurs, continuous care can be ordered. continuous care allows for the hospice to order skilled nursing in the home for 24 hours a day until symptoms or pain are manageable and can be controlled by routine home care.
Respite Care
Respite care is available for those times when you, your family member or caregiver needs a brief break. This is part of the Medicare hospice benefit. inpatient respite care is short term inpatient care at a CMS approved nursing facility, usually of (5) days in a (90) ninety-day period.
Useful Links
Hospice Myth vs Truth
Myth # 1: Hospice is a place
Fact: Hospice care is provided wherever the need exists. It is a centrally administered program of palliative and supportive services which provides physical, psychological, social, and spiritual care.
Myth # 2: Hospice is only for dying people
Fact: Hospice is a family-centered concept of care. It focuses as much on the grieving family as on the patient.
Myth # 3: Hospice is only for when there is no more hope.
Fact: Hospice affirms life and hope. When faced with a terminal illness, hospice focuses on comfort and dignity. Hospice helps patients and families understand that even though death can lead to sadness, anger, and pain, it can also lead to opportunities for reminiscence, laughter, reunion, and hope.
Myth # 4: Hospice can only help when family members are available to provide care
Fact: Hospices coordinate community resources to make home care possible, or they can help find an alternative location where the patient can safely receive care. Hospice recognizes the patient and family as the unit of care and that they are in control of care decisions.
Talk With Anchor Hospice
On Call 24/7 service