Hospice care focuses on improving the quality of life of individuals suffering from terminal illnesses, so they can live comfortably during the last phases of their life-limiting medical condition. Not only that, but hospice care also assists the family members throughout different phases and provides the best possible remedies for their symptoms.

Hospice care aims to provide a team to facilitate the last days with dignity. Read on as we share with you everything you would need to know about hospice care, so you can make an informed decision and provide unprecedented care for your loved one.

Understanding Hospice Care

This type of care is provided to patients who are suffering from advanced diseases which cannot be controlled or cured. Normally, hospice care is provided to individuals who are at an advanced stage of their terminal illness and are expected to have around 6 months to live. As people have varying responses to a disease, it is always best to discuss the disease's progress and the provision of hospice care as early on as possible. In general, hospice care is not opted for early on as family members, the doctor, or the patient may show resistance to accepting the care.

Studies reveal that it's their feeling of hopelessness that influences them to resist hospice care. There are a plethora of hospice care providers who offer different patient care services that are mostly geared towards the specific type of disease and its severity.

Providing Uncompromised Care

Whether the patient requires care in the home or at the hospital, hospice care providers are always ready to assist, improve patient care, and stay involved till the best outcomes are achieved. If your loved one needs immediate medical care from the hospital, it will be the responsibility of hospice care providers to facilitate the patient, so they receive the required assistance and best care.

Providing Palliative Care

Palliative care is all about symptom management and is different from hospice care. However, hospice care providers tend to add palliative care, so the patients can not only enjoy each day to the fullest but also have control over the symptoms that accompany the disease. Now that we have briefly discussed hospice care, let's look at how it assists in improving patient outcomes.

Conducting Meetings

A trustworthy and reliable hospice care provider will always try, to the best of their abilities, to improve the quality of life for the patient and their loved ones. Hospice care providers working at Three Oaks Hospice say certified service providers are trained to schedule meetings with family members to inform them about their loved one's progress and what they can expect regarding their current medical condition. Besides educating the participants, these meetings act as a means of stress relief for the family members and assist them in understanding the situation in the best possible manner. The certified care providers can also inform you about the daily progress during routine visits.

Spiritual Well Being

People have different religious and spiritual beliefs which can only be addressed by providing adequate spiritual care. Your hospice care provider will take the necessary steps, so the patient's spiritual needs are met. They can even arrange a religious ceremony or a ritual for the family, so they can accept fate and say their last goodbyes.

Respite and Bereavement Care

With respite care, the patient is provided care for 5 days a week followed by a break period where family members can arrange trips, family gatherings, or simply let themselves be cared for at home. Additionally, bereavement care aids family members in grieving the loss of their loved one. The care-providing team utilizes their counselors, clergy members, or volunteers to keep in touch with the grieving family through visits, phone calls, and by inviting them to attend support groups. These bereavement services are provided for at least a year after a loved one dies.

Palliative Vs Hospice Care

Some people confuse palliative care with hospice care and think they are the same thing. They are similar to some extent as both aim to improve the quality of life.

Let's look at some differences between both to develop a clear understanding. Hospice care is offered to patients who have a limited time to live whereas palliative care may become an option at any time. Furthermore, palliative care improves the quality of life by controlling the symptoms of the disease. On the other hand, hospice care is only provided when you have exhausted all your treatment options and are unable to find support.

We hope you find the information on hospice care presented to be useful, so you can make the right decision. As there are a lot of options, consider evaluating each one and comparing them, so you can pick the one that can help you achieve the best possible outcomes.