Hospice Care When You Need It The Most
Hospice is a special type of care for people who are facing serious illness and who have a limited life expectancy. Hospice patients can receive services in the environment they choose, wherever they call home. The Hospice team can provide In Home Hospice Service in a patient’s own home, the home of a family member, a nursing home, senior apartments or an assisted living facility.
One of the most common questions we receive is “what is hospice care?” There is often confusion regarding what hospice care is and what it is not.
Hospice is a philosophy of care. It treats the person rather than the disease and focuses on quality of life. It surrounds the patient and family with a team consisting of professionals who not only address physical distress, but emotional and spiritual issues as well. Hospice care is patient-centered because the needs of the patient and family drive the activities of the hospice team.
It is also important to make clear what hospice is not – hospice is not hastening death. Instead, at Shepherd Home Health and Hospice, it is about celebrating what time the patient has left, and making them as comfortable as possible.
Hospice focuses on caring, not curing and, in most cases, care is provided in the patient’s home. Hospice care also is provided in freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, and nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Hospice services are available to patients of any age, religion, race, or illness. Hospice care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations.
Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make decisions for the patient. Members of our hospice staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care or other services. Our hospice staff is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
The patient and their hospice care team will develop a plan of care that meets each patient’s individual needs for pain management and symptom control. Our team usually consists of:
- The patient and their caregivers.
- The patient’s personal physician;
- Hospice physician (or medical director);
- Nurses;
- Home health aides;
- Social workers;
- Chaplains;
- Trained volunteers;
- Speech, physical, and occupational therapists, if needed.
GET STARTED – CONTACT US
Shepherd took very good care of my Mom. They always made her feel very special. The not allow take very good care of their patients but also the families. Today they hosted a Memorial Service to light candles to honor our loved ones.
Sandra Rodriguez-Ramos