Types of Hospices

A large number of people are taken care of by hospices. The goal of hospice care is to give the best possible quality of life for patients who have been diagnosed with an end-stage illness. Hospice care is used when curative treatment has stopped, and a person is near death. Hospice care can be provided at home, in a hospital, assisted living facility, or a nursing home. Different types of hospice care may be used depending on the patient's needs and family.

Below are some types of hospices.

Inpatient Ward Hospice

Certain hospice programs provide inpatient services and can be found at a hospital or skilled nursing facility. This type of care is needed when the patient has medical problems that make it difficult to remain at home. It may entail pain management and respiratory issues. An Inpatient Ward is where patients who are not well enough to go home are taken. They are given medical care, treatments, medication, and daily nursing care monitored.

Nursing Home

The hospice care decision is made because the patient can no longer live alone or with family members who need to continue outside the home. A nursing home is where the patient can live while receiving help with activities of daily living, pain management, medications, and other supportive services. Nursing homes are specialized facilities designed to provide living quarters for people who cannot care for themselves. Nursing home residents are often frail, chronically ill, or incapacitated due to age-related disabilities.

Residential Care Facility

Like a nursing home, this facility provides 24/7 care to patients who cannot take care of themselves at home. However, unlike nursing homes, only six or fewer patients are in the hospice care facility. The patient has their room. However, there is an average of two to five other people living with them at all times. This type of hospice care is for individuals who are more independent than they would be in a nursing home.

Private Duty Nurse Hospice

This type of hospice care is for people who can take care of themselves at home while receiving help with different activities of daily living, pain management, medications, and other supportive services. A private duty nurse provides the same types of service as a hospice team but does so individually. This may be more appropriate for individuals who are not as ill as those needing the care provided in the other types of hospices but still need help with activities of daily living and pain management.

Hospice is a type of care for terminally ill patients who are expected to live six months or less. It can be provided at a patient's home, inpatient ward of the hospital, or nursing home. Hospice care can help relieve pain and increase comfort for terminally ill patients. The right type of hospice must be chosen for each patient. This can be done by determining which of the different hospices best suit the patient.

Gentle Care

Transitioning to hospice can be a difficult change for the sick as well as for the families of those in need of hospice care. When it's time for you to choose hospice care for yourself or a loved one, you want to know that you have made the best choice in order to get the best care. A hospice provider that has experienced nurses and staff members could prove to be the best choice. A hospice provider that can offer a patient the care and the attention that they need is paramount.

Those in the Waco and Killen areas of Texas will find comfort in knowing that they can choose Gentle Transition Hospice for their loved one. They offer quality end of life care to the patient as well as to the family. They can serve at the patient's home, hospital or assisted living facility. They offer skilled nursing care, chaplains, nursing assistance, social workers and so much more to ensure that the patient gets the best care possible. As they are contracted with the Department of Veterans Affairs, they are always ready to serve Veterans. They are able to accept Medicare and many other forms of insurance.

The loving and caring nurses and staff are going to be able to help walk you and your family through each stage of their hospice journey. They'll have all of the information you need to help you make informed decisions that are best for the patient. They know how to manage all of the symptoms that a patient may go through, making it a huge comfort for the patient. When the patient is comfortable, the family is also comfortable.

Hospice allows a patient to experience managed pain as well as symptom control. Hospice care offers the compassionate care that you want for your loved one in order to keep them as comfortable as possible. Anyone that is facing a terminal illness is eligible for hospice care. All of the medical supplies and equipment that a patient may need during their care is provided by hospice, making it an easier transition for all concerned.

Many illnesses such as cancer, liver disease, HIV, stroke, dementia and Alzheimer's can be a reason to consider hospice for your loved one. ALS and COPD can also be reasons for choosing hospice. Everyone wants the best care they can have for those that they love. They want them to be comfortable and safe and choosing to use a quality hospice provider can be one of the best decisions that a patient or family members can choose.

SERVICES OFFERED IN A HOSPICE

Availability of services is one important aspect of hospice care. Hospice patients can receive services without limitations or restrictions, regardless of their financial status or residence. Services may be provided by a hospice organization directly or through a contract with other entities.

Physical Comfort Measures

Hospice organizations provide physical comfort measures that help maintain the patient's level of well-being and remain comfortable even in the face of serious illness. These measures include pain medications, anti-nausea medications, skin preparations for dryness, antibiotic ointments for bed sores, catheters, nebulizers for breathing difficulties, special bedding equipment to prevent skin breakdowns, and others depending on illness and location.

Emotional and Spiritual Support

The emotional and spiritual support provided by hospice organizations is an important part of the care they offer. This might include providing a listening ear, helping to make funeral arrangements, or just being there for support. Chaplains or other spiritual counselors may also provide counseling and guidance when needed.

Hospice Care at Home

Most hospice care is provided in the home, but it can also be given in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or hospital. The goal of hospice care is to allow patients to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. This not only allows them to be with family and friends, but it is also often less expensive than care in a nursing home or hospital.

Bereavement Counseling for Family Members

After a loved one dies, family members may need help coping with their loss. Hospice organizations provide bereavement counseling services to help family members work through their grief. The duration of counseling depends on the individual, but it is generally offered for at least one year after the death of a loved one.

End-of-Life Care Planning

One of the most important services hospice organizations provide is end-of-life care planning. This includes helping patients and their families make decisions about care near the end of life, including whether or not to pursue aggressive treatment. Hospice organizations also help families make arrangements for care after the death of a loved one.

Patient and Family Education

Hospice staff members provide patients and family members education about their illness, treatment options, available resources, and symptom management techniques for physical symptoms such as pain or nausea. This goal may require collaboration among several disciplines to allow continuity of care.

Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

This includes help with bathing, dressing, toileting/incontinence care, maintenance of continence aids such as catheters or ostomies for people in certain circumstances. Assistance with ADLs also includes getting in/out of bed/chair if needed. It also includes assistance in taking medications when appropriate.

Advocacy Services

Another service offered in a hospice is advocacy. An advocate who works with the dying may work with family members, caregivers, health care professionals, and religious figures to help them understand end-of-life issues like pain management, decision making, advance directives, and other important matters that will need to be addressed when caring for patients at the end of their lives.

These are just some of the services offered by hospice organizations. For more information, please visit the Gentle Transitions Hospice website.