Until you’re faced with the loss of a loved one, it’s really hard to know what to expect from hospice or what it entails. The following information should give you some insight into how hospice care works and what it can do for you and the people you love dearly.
Simply put, hospice is care for people who are terminally ill. Hospice has existed for hundreds of years, but modern hospice care as we know it, didn’t appear until the 1950’s. By design, hospice exists to make sure a dying person’s needs are met, physically and spiritually. Hospice companies like Lighten Home Health and Hospice also provide emotional and spiritual support for the families of those that are passing.
Home Health, Inpatient Services & Palliative Care
One of the first and ongoing steps in hospice care is understanding what type of care makes sense at any given point in time. This depends on what the patient, family or both may want for end of life.
Often, the patient has made their wishes about hospice clear to their family ahead of time. Once this is communicated to the facility they can then tailor their care accordingly. In the event a patient is unable to communicate their preferences, the family will be consulted. This is why early planning and communication is important, as difficult as those conversations may be.
Our team of certified medical nurses, home health aides, social workers, and trained volunteers are able to handle any and all situations with ease. The patient’s own physician will be able to coordinate the patient's care with us to ensure that the process goes as seamlessly as possible.
That is how hospice care works.
Support for Friends & Family
Bereavement care is counseling for the family or friends of the person who is passing away. This is part of the total hospice package that is meant to make things easier, as much as they can be during this time of grief, for everyone involved. The volunteer staff are especially essential to the process, making sure that support is readily available for all who need it.
"Choosing to Live Every Moment" is the founding philosophy at Lighten Home Health and Hospice. If you have questions about what hospice care entails, give us a call today. We’ll do our best to ease your fears about end of life care for someone you love. Our loving staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you with any questions you may have.
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