Approaching the end of life is never easy, but hospice can help people make the most of the time they have left. In hospice, patients and their families are surrounded by a support team, including medical professionals, aides, social workers and chaplains or spiritual advisors.

“Families often tell us they wish their loved one had entered hospice sooner,” said Traci Hocking, director of Aultman Hospice and Palliative Care. “Our team can provide months of patient care and family support, helping patients and families maximize their quality of life and recognize their gifts and blessings even as the final days approach.”

In recognition of National Home Care, Hospice and Palliative Care Month, here are five important facts to know about hospice.

Hospice is a method of care, not a physical location.

Hospice care may be offered in the person's home, a nursing home, a hospital, a hospice facility or in another place. But most hospice programs bring healthcare providers, nurses and other staff to people’s homes. Surveys show most Americans prefer it that way.

Families may opt for periods of respite care, which allows them to have a few days off from their caregiving responsibilities. During respite care, their loved one is admitted to a care facility for a short-term stay.

“Our Compassionate Care Center, located at Aultman Woodlawn, provides a comfortable, peaceful environment for short-term care,” Hocking said. “Patient rooms are private and spacious, and families are welcome around the clock.”

Patients can enter hospice care months before the end of their life.

Instead of waiting until the very last moment to enter hospice, hospice staff advise families to discuss end-of-life issues well in advance, while the patient can still state their wishes.

A person with a life-limiting illness can go into hospice when a doctor believes they have about six months or less left to live. Hospice care can be used by people in the end stages of cancer, severe lung disease, heart failure and other diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease.

Hospice continues as long as it's needed. If a person's health gets better, they can end the hospice care and start it again later. Patients have the right to leave hospice care at any time for any reason.

Hospice care provides an entire team to support the patient and their family.

The team’s goals are to control pain and symptoms and help the patient live the highest quality life possible.

“Hospice care focuses on pain relief and supportive care, making a patient’s final days meaningful and comfortable,” Hocking said. “Care involves meeting the physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs of the patient and their loved ones.”

A registered nurse case manager coordinates care given by the hospice team, making visits no less than every 14 days and more often as needed to meet the needs of the patient and their family.

The team includes the hospice doctor, registered nurses and the patient's personal doctor, as well as social workers, home health aides, counselors, chaplains/spiritual advisors and other providers as needed. The team also helps the family through the grieving process.

The patient’s wishes are at the center of care.

The relationship that develops with the hospice staff allows people to work through anticipated grieving as well as plan end-of-life issues. Patients are grateful to know that their family will not be left behind with no one to help them.

“The mission of Aultman Hospice is to provide our patients and families with emotional, spiritual and physical support while ensuring that end-of-life care is handled with dignity, compassion and respect,” Hocking said.

Final preparations are made in partnership with the patient. The final days can then be spent on closure, knowing that everything has been done to help the patient.

Medicare, Medicaid and most health plans cover hospice programs.

After checking with Medicare, Medicaid or their health insurance provider, the patient, family and healthcare provider decide when hospice service should start. The patient may choose to stop hospice at any time if they decide to resume treatment toward a cure.

Although a person enters hospice with less than six months to live, hospice services don't automatically end at six months. Some people in hospice care live much longer. Insurance may continue to provide hospice coverage after six months. The person's healthcare provider would again need to put in writing that the person has a life-limiting illness.

Want to learn more? Aultman Hospice provides telephone consultations and home visits. Call us at 330-479-2378 or click here to email us.

Source: The StayWell Company, LLC