Hospice Care

It is important that we have a common understanding of what hospice care is before answering this question. Hospice provides care for a patient who has a terminal diagnosis, with expectation of a prognosis of 6 months or less, and is usually no longer seeking curative treatment. Hospice focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting patients and is provided in the home, in a residential setting, or in the hospital. Another way of looking at it, is that hospice care provides palliative care for those approaching the last stages of life. I find that the best first step in addressing discussions about hospice with patients and families is to first understand what they know about their underlying diagnosis, their treatment options and how their illness is impacting their quality of life. I want to also understand what is most important to a patient and family when the prognosis is limited. Once I know what a patient and family hope to achieve and what is most important to them I can best help to guide treatment and make use of hospice services to help maximize their quality of life and help them to achieve their goals. It is important that we have a common understanding of what hospice care is before answering this question. Hospice provides care for a patient who has a terminal diagnosis, with expectation of a prognosis of 6 months or less, and is usually no longer seeking curative treatment. Hospice focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting patients and is provided in the home, in a residential setting, or in the hospital. Another way of looking at it, is that hospice care provides palliative care for those approaching the last stages of life. I find that the best first step in addressing discussions about hospice with patients and families is to first understand what they know about their underlying diagnosis, their treatment options and how their illness is impacting their quality of life. I want to also understand what is most important to a patient and family when the prognosis is limited. Once I know what a patient and family hope to achieve and what is most important to them I can best help to guide treatment and make use of hospice services to help maximize their quality of life and help them to achieve their goals.

Hospice care can be a very powerful support for patients and families. It is worth exploring. Because the cost and services provided for hospice may vary from organization to organization, it can be worth doing your homework before hospice is needed. Hospice care provides physical and emotional care in the months, weeks, and days before death for people with terminal illness. Hospice provides counseling to patients and their loved ones as well as medical care.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm

I have used hospice unfortunately on a few occasions. I highly recommend them. They are an excellent support system, take much of the responsibility off of the family and make the patient as comfortable as possible. Last I have had to use them was on my mother when I made the decision to pull her life support. Here in Indiana it is legal thank God. To get started with the hospice process, talk to your doctor about his or her hospice recommendations and experiences. You can also ask members of your faith community for recommendations or use a hospice locator to find organizations in your area. The following websites may also be helpful:

http://www.vnaa.org/vnaa/g/?H=HTML/find_a_vna_map.html
http://www.nahcagencylocator.com/
http://www.hospicedirectory.org/
http://iweb.nhpco.org/iweb/Membership/MemberDirectorySearch.aspx?pageid=3257&showTitle=1
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Index.aspx

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm

Making the decision to use hospice care typically occurs after a doctor tells the patient that more treatments are unlikely to prolong life and may even make remaining days more difficult. A doctor may suggest to families that the extra care offered by hospice could ease pain and provide much-needed support.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm
Making the decision to use hospice care typically occurs after a doctor tells the patient that more treatments are unlikely to prolong life and may even make remaining days more difficult. A doctor may suggest to families that the extra care offered by hospice could ease pain and provide much-needed support.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm

Hospice care can take place in a hospice building or within a hospital, or hospice care workers may come to the home of the person receiving services. In an institutional setting, hospice patients receive round-the-clock medical care. Patients enrolled in home hospice receive most of their care from caregivers, not medical professionals.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm
Hospice care can take place in a hospice building or within a hospital, or hospice care workers may come to the home of the person receiving services. In an institutional setting, hospice patients receive round-the-clock medical care. Patients enrolled in home hospice receive most of their care from caregivers, not medical professionals.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm

Palliative care, or care that improves quality of life, can be a part of hospice care, but it can also take place outside of hospice care. Hospice specifically refers to end-of-life care.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm

Palliative care, or care that improves quality of life, can be a part of hospice care, but it can also take place outside of hospice care. Hospice specifically refers to end-of-life care.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm

Medicare offers a hospice benefit and many employer or private health insurance plans also include hospice benefits, although coverage for services varies.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm
Medicare offers a hospice benefit and many employer or private health insurance plans also include hospice benefits, although coverage for services varies.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm

While some hospices allow you to get primary care from the hospice medical director, most hospices will allow you to receive care from your primary doctor, who will work with the hospice team.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm
While some hospices allow you to get primary care from the hospice medical director, most hospices will allow you to receive care from your primary doctor, who will work with the hospice team.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm

Here are some of the activities a hospice nurse might do during typical home-based care:

Greet patient and caregiver(s)
Ask about appetite, energy levels, pain, and symptoms.
Take patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and other vital signs.
Ask if medications seem to be helping or if they are causing problems.
Assist patient and caregiver in obtaining medical supplies needed at home.
Offer advice to caregiver and patient about what to expect next in disease process and when/how to request for special assistance.
Listen to patient’s and caregiver’s emotional concerns and arrange assistance from a social worker or pastoral care.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm
Here are some of the activities a hospice nurse might do during typical home-based care:

Greet patient and caregiver(s)
Ask about appetite, energy levels, pain, and symptoms.
Take patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and other vital signs.
Ask if medications seem to be helping or if they are causing problems.
Assist patient and caregiver in obtaining medical supplies needed at home.
Offer advice to caregiver and patient about what to expect next in disease process and when/how to request for special assistance.
Listen to patient’s and caregiver’s emotional concerns and arrange assistance from a social worker or pastoral care.

For more about hospice, see our article: http://www.cfah.org/hbns/preparedpatient/Vol4/Prepared-Patient-Vol4-Issue3.cfm