Hospice care is a special service designed intensively for people with end-of-life illnesses. Here are 10 things you need to know about hospice care, which includes medical, emotional, spiritual, and grief support. We often misunderstand hospice care despite its advantages.

Hospice care is sometimes not offered, and other times patients or their families are reluctant to accept hospice care. In our case studies, we noticed that many families, after receiving our hospice care, felt that they should have approached our hospice care services earlier and sooner, as it would have really supported both the patient and their families in all ways.

1. Services Covered by Hospice

Hospice care includes:

• Medical care from registered nurses trained in pain control and symptom management.
• Personal care needs are met by certified nursing assistants who help with feeding or bathing assistance, shaving, or nail care.
• Emotional support is provided by social workers who help manage the stress and emotional aspects of late-stage illness.
• Spiritual care is offered by chaplains who are professional clergy and recognize spiritual needs at this time of life.
• Volunteers offer companionship by playing cards, reading a newspaper, having coffee, taking walks, or giving wheelchair rides, etc.
• Grief support is available from highly trained grief specialists who offer one-on-one visits, phone calls, and literature to family members for up to 13 months, depending on individual needs and comfort level.

2. Is Hospice Care Only for Cancer Patients?

No. Hospice care is for anyone with a late-stage illness, including Alzheimer’s, dementia, heart and lung diseases, renal failure, HIV, and other life-limiting illnesses.

3. Is Hospice Care Only for the Elderly?

Hospice care is for people of all ages—from infants to the elderly—who have a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its “normal” course.

4. Is Hospice Care Expensive?

No. At Sahara Hospice Care, services including medication and equipment related to the terminal diagnosis are completely covered under the Medicare/Medicaid Hospice Benefit. Many private insurance carriers also offer a hospice benefit. Sahara Hospice Care provides services to everyone who qualifies for the medical guidelines of hospice care, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.

5. Should I Contact Hospice Care Just Before the End of Life?

It’s a myth. No, you don’t. As soon as you learn about the terminal diagnosis, you need to contact the hospice services to benefit most. It can lighten the burden if initiated at any early stage.

6. Are Hospice Workers Only Volunteers?

No. At Sahara Hospice Care, we provide care by our highly specialized professional staff, which includes our trained and registered nurses, certified assistants, social workers, chaplains, and grief specialists.

7. Is Choosing Hospice Giving Up?

We misunderstand hospice care. It’s about caring for the individual rather than curing. At Sahara Hospice, our focus is to help the patient achieve maximum comfort both physically and mentally. We have pain and symptom management experts to provide support and relief, giving families time to share special moments with each other during the end of life.

8. Do I Need to Contact Hospice Care Only on My Doctor’s Recommendation?

We recommend that as soon as you learn about the terminal diagnosis, get prepared for your options for hospice care. You can call us anytime to dig deeper with no obligations. Although a physician’s order is required for admission to the hospice program, early contact can help with planning and support.

9. Is Hospice a Place?

Not always. With Sahara Hospice Care, hospice is a concept of care and support. It can be at your home, nursing homes, or our place, depending on the selection of the patient and their families.

10. Does Choosing Hospice Mean You Die Sooner?

No. Selecting hospice care never means that death is decided. Hospice care neither hastens death nor prolongs life. It is purely to improve the quality of life during the end-of-life experience.

Never allow your fears to prevent you from getting the care you or your loved one needs and deserves.

Call us now to dig deeper!

SAHARA HOSPICE CARE

140 Eldridge Rd Suite B 1, Sugar Land, TX 77498

Phone: (281) 313-0085

https://saharahospicecare.com//