The goal of hospice care, also known as palliative care or comfort care is to maintain the highest quality of life possible for your loved one by focusing on his or her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. A team of specialists can design a unique treatment program based on your loved one's culture, beliefs, and values. Hospice services aim to relieve your loved one's symptoms and to make him or her as comfortable as possible.
Who Provides Hospice Services?
A team of specialists, including physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, members of the clergy, and counselors, provide hospice care. Nutritionists, dieticians, physical therapists, and other professionals may also lend their services when needed.
What Do Hospice Services Include?
The hospice team works together with the entire family to make end-of-life care more manageable. Because each case is unique, physicians work with each person and his or her family to decide which treatment is best. Hospice services typically include pain medication, artificial hydration and nutrition, and breathing aids, like a respirator or ventilator. Pain management is one of the most important aspects of hospice care. The hospice team can develop a treatment plan for your loved one to ease as much suffering as possible.
Where Is Hospice Care Available?
Ninety percent of hospice care takes place in the home, but you can also take advantage of hospice services in nursing homes, hospitals and special hospice facilities. Hospice services outside of the home are becoming increasingly popular. Hospice teams work with hospital or nursing home personnel to coordinate treatment for end-of-life comfort
October 2007
Sources:
Healthwise
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