Many people are unsure of what the word hospice means, with some assuming that hospice is a place. Hospice is the care provided to people who are in their last stages of life. So, why should a patient’s loved ones choose hospice care for him or her?
Hospice
A hospice is commonly thought of as a place where you can entrust the care of your loved one, but it’s more than just a facility, it’s a philosophy of care. Hospice can be provided in a patient’s own home and not necessarily in a separate facility. At this point, your loved one can no longer be treated for his or her illness or injury, but can still enjoy a higher quality of life.
Patients in hospice often have debilitating (terminal or non-terminal) illnesses or injuries and are unable to care for themselves. Cancer, heart disease, dementia, and COPD are the common conditions that patients in hospice have. Even going to the bathroom can be very challenging for most people in hospice care. In hospice, a patient is not only provided physical assistance, but also medical care for end-of-life pain.
Who Provides Hospice Care?
A superior quality of hospice care is provided by a team of healthcare providers that include physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, spiritual care coordinators, and hospice aides.
Hospice aides are selected for their compassionate and caring nature. These aides ensure that your loved one lives his or her final years unencumbered by difficulty and discomfort through constant assistance. A hospice aide provides help with getting out of and getting into bed, dressing, going to the bathroom, bathing and showering, cooking, and also accompanying patients to their doctor’s appointments as well as their appointments with specialists and therapists.
More than the physical aspects of daily living, hospice care also includes emotional and spiritual services to patients. A patient may be in emotional and spiritual distress due to the illness, injury, and the prospect of death. Anxiety and depression are common in patients coming into hospice care. It isthrough hospice that a patient receives help and guidance from spiritual caretakers and social workers for spiritual comfort and emotional support.
Hospice care can be delivered in a facility or the patient’s home, depending on the level of care he or she needs. But only patients with a limited life expectancy are suited for hospice care. The daily activities of the patient are driven by their specific needs. It is a patient-centered care that celebrates your loved one’s life before death.
Hospice Care in Bastrop, TX
If you’re looking for help in caring for your loved one, our hospice care team at Serenity Hospice can help you. Our team consists of physicians, specialized physicians, nurse practitioners (including a board-certified gerontology primary care nurse practitioner) to provide superior hospice care to your loved one whether in a home or in a facility. If you have questions about our services or would like to consult with our providers, you may reach us at (512) 985-6107 or use our convenient online request form for further information. Our friendly staff looks forward to your call.
