What Services Can Hospice Patients and Families Receive?

If you find that you are diagnosed with a terminal illness or know someone who are terminally ill, and found no successful treatment then you might want to consider Hospice Care. Keep reading to find out more about what Hospice Care is and why it can be beneficial to you.

Hospice care is provided to anyone who is terminally ill and who has focused in the quality of life rather than trying to take treatments that will lessen the suffering caused by the terminal illness. The patient and their family receive care from a team of professionals who specializes in end-of-life patients. The services that these support teams provide, will be very beneficial in order to maximize comfort for a person who is terminally ill.

The support team can also provide help to families by counselling them on how to deal with grief especially when someone is dying and knowing that they will be gone. Unlike other healthcare departments, the focus of Hospice Care is not to cure the underlying issue of the patient but rather to give them the highest quality of life as possible for the time they have in the world.

Hospice care can be provided to anyone who is terminally ill or has six months or less to live but can also be provided to anyone if their doctor has permitted and confirmed that their illness is life-limiting.

What Does Hospice Provide to Patients?

Once a patient is enrolled in the hospice treatment, visits begin from the hospice care team which includes a nurse, a healthcare professional, a social worker, a chaplain, a bereavement coordinator, and volunteer workers, and many more. The hospice staff oversees the care offered to the patient and their families in the hospice.

Here is a list of some of the services that the hospice team provides:

Nursing visits to tend to physical symptoms.
Bereavement support visits to tend to grief and bereavement problems.
Bereavement support for the family that has lost or will be losing their loved ones.
Chaplain visits to tend to emotional and spiritual needs to provide comfort.
Volunteers to provide companionship.
Visits from the hospice will also be covering personal care such as hygiene, bathing, and grooming.

As for the patient the hospice will not be charging a penny to the patient for any medication, supplies, and medical equipment related to their terminal illness and diagnosis.

The offered services focuses on the needs of the patients and their families. As per the Patients and families’ requirements services are offered. The programs can be catered accordingly.

Other services can also be part of the Comfort Care. Specific forms of chemical treatment and radiation, such as “palliative” chemotherapy and radiation are examples that do not treat an illness but that contribute to the relief of signals. If you or your family believe that you may be eligible for these extra services, please ask your hospice nurse or doctor.

Who Are Involved in the Hospice Care Team?

Knowing who is taking care of you or your loved one is very important. Knowing the Hospice Care Team will provide you an ease of mind knowing you won’t have to worry if your loved one is receiving the care that he or she deserves.

Doctor – A primary care doctor is assigned for each patient. And they supervises all healthcare related issues and needs of the patient.
Nurses – A nurse will be the assistants of the doctor and the ones taking over when the doctor is not available. They are the ones who collect information and spend most of the time with the patient.
Spiritual Counselors – These counselors tend to the spiritual needs of the patient and can also provide extra guidance for the patient’s family. Spiritual Counselors can be Chaplains, priests, religious ministers, etc.
Social Workers – Social workers provide general support for the patient without having the professional aspect. Social workers tend to talk more conversational and less professional which makes it a great social support outlet for any patient just needing a talk but not necessarily professional care.
Bereavement Counselors – Grief and Bereavement counselors tend to support the patient and their families might have. Since this is such a tough time for both the patient and the family, having a trained professional who is experienced in giving support and guidance after the death of a loved one can be beneficial.
Volunteers – Volunteers offer a great variety of services such as providing company / companionship or helping with transportation or other day to day needs such as grooming.

What Kind of Equipment Does the Hospice Provide?

It is very important to know what hospice program provides to see if it suits the needs of your loved one or not. Several Hospice Programs have different variations of equipment but there are a few that are a must have in every Hospice. With the right medical facilities and the necessary medical supplies, patients are treated as best as the Hospice Care can do. And don’t forget that these come with no cost to the patient.

Here are some of the equipment that every hospice must have but is not limited to:

Hospital Bed
Proper Bedding
Transportation Devices
- Wheelchairs
- Crutches
- Lifts
Oxygen Equipment
- Oxygen Gas for Intake
- Inhalers
Nebulizers
Tables
Grooming equipment
- Shower Accessories
- Personal Hygiene Items
  - Soap, Shampoo, Body Lotion, etc.
- Wound Care Supplies
  - Bandages
  - Pads
  - Liquid Treatments