When you or a loved one experience a serious illness or injury or even a terminal diagnosis, the choices in how and where to receive care can be overwhelming. During National Care at Home Month, we take a closer look at three options: home healthcare, palliative care and hospice care.

Home Healthcare

Home healthcare involves medically necessary care for patients who are homebound. According to Cheri Greenwell, director of clinical operations for Aultman Health Care in Your Home, home health services can include:

• Skilled nursing visits to provide education and training and hands-on care involving wound care, intravenous medications, catheters, medication management, how to cope with medical conditions and more.
  
  
• Therapists who evaluate the patient and address needs such as gait and balance training, home safety, strengthening, activities of daily living, swallowing and speech and language recovery.
  
  
• Aides to help with hands-on personal care such as bathing, dressing and shampooing.
  
  
• Social services to make referrals and assist patients and families with accessing helpful resources.

Home healthcare must be ordered by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

“Home healthcare allows people to be in the comfort of their homes while they recuperate after a hospitalization or illness,” Greenwell said in a recent appearance on the Health Matters radio program. “It also allows for patients and their caregivers to become independent in managing their care at home and instills confidence in their ability to provide care.”

Call 330-479-4805 with questions about Aultman Health Care in Your Home.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialized support for people living with a serious illness at any stage – even while they’re still receiving treatment or pursuing a cure, said Traci Hocking, director of Aultman Hospice and Palliative Care.

“Palliative care focuses on relief from symptoms, pain and stress, improving quality of life for both patients and families,” she said. “Palliative care teams work with a patient’s primary care doctor or specialist to provide an additional layer of support in managing chronic or life-limiting illnesses.”

Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, chaplains and other specialists. Palliative care teams help patients make decisions about their care and help them live as actively as possible despite serious illness.

Usually, a physician refers patients to palliative care. However, you can also talk to your healthcare provider if you’re interested in palliative care.

Aultman Palliative Care can be reached at 330-479-2375.

Hospice

Hospice care is a form of palliative care provided when treatments are no longer effective or desired, and the focus shifts entirely to comfort and quality of life – typically when life expectancy is six months or less. But both palliative care and hospice share the same goal: helping patients live as fully and comfortably as possible.

At Aultman Hospice, board-certified hospice and palliative care physicians work with nurses, social workers, pharmacists, aides, chaplains and volunteers to create a personalized plan of care for each patient and family.

“Hospice brings an entire team to surround the patient and family with compassionate support,” Hocking said. “Patients receive expert pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support and 24/7 nursing access. Families receive education, respite and bereavement services.

“Aultman's program also helps fulfill last wishes for our patients and families – whether that’s a special family gathering, a final trip or a simple moment of joy. These experiences create lasting memories and help families find peace and closure.”

Hocking cautions patients not to wait until the last minute to enter hospice. The earlier patients enter hospice, the more support the patient and family receive. “You don’t need to wait for a doctor to suggest hospice,” Hocking said. “You can reach out any time.”

Call Aultman Hospice at 330-479-2378 for more information.