For the patient
Hospice works with the family or nursing
home staff to provide care to the patient who is terminally
ill. Goals of care are established with the patient and family
and a care plan is developed to help meet realistic and achievable
goals.
The hospice team provides the patient
with medical care to relieve pain and other symptoms arising
from a life-limiting illness. Medications are ordered by the
primary physician or hospice doctor. Coverage of these medications
depends on each patient’s insurance plan. Laboratory services
related to symptom control deemed essential to treatment or
for recertification are provided by the hospice program. Ambulance
services are also provided when medically necessary, related
to the terminal diagnosis, consistent with the overall interdisciplinary
plan of care.
Basic needs of daily living such as dressing,
eating, cooking, getting to the bathroom, are usually met by
family, friends, privately hired caregivers and/or nursing home
personnel. The hospice staff provides a supervisory and educational
role to these individuals. Most hospices provide a limited number
of hours of care by a home health aide for identified needs
such as bath service. Durable medical equipment such as oxygen,
hospital bed, walker, commode, etc. is provided by hospice when
medically necessary.
Counseling is available to patients to
help them cope with their illness, address depression, grief,
and anxiety as well as spiritual issues such as fear of death.
Religious care is available either directly
by the hospice chaplain or through community resources.
Hospice staff may assist the patient
with unfinished legal or financial business and in making funeral
arrangements.
For the caregivers and/or
family members
Counseling services to help with caregiver
stress, role changes, depression, anxiety, family conflict,
grief, and spiritual concerns.
Respite care can be provided to family
either by volunteers or, in the case of an emergency and on
a short-term basis, by paid staff either at home or in the hospital.
Education can be provided to help the
family provide hands on care to patients for:
- proper use of medications
- knowledge about disease progression
- signs and symptoms of dying
- normal grief response
- ways to cope with stress
- practical assistance with legal
matters
- completing Powers of Attorney
- accessing community service
- assistance with cremation/burial
arrangements and with funeral/memorial services.
Bereavement care is available for 13
months following the death of a loved one. This may include
memorial services, educational sessions, short-term counseling,
grief support groups, and referrals to community resources.
