What is Hospice Care?
Hospice is a special concept of care designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families when a life-limiting illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments. Hospice is about living each day to the fullest. The goal of hospice is to improve the quality of a patient’s last days by managing their pain and symptoms.
Hospice deals with the emotional, social, and spiritual impact of the disease on the patient and their family.
The patient’s primary physician and/or the hospice medical director determines what medicines will be most effective, after assessment of the patient’s pain and symptoms.
A hospice nurse coordinates the care provided by the hospice team to the patient; and initial assessment is done by the hospice nurse upon admission, after which the hospice plan of care is written and approved by the physician.
The hospice team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet the needs of the patient and family, at home. Team members may be reached by calling Heart To Heart Hospice, Inc.’s local or toll free number at any time.
Bereavement counseling for a bereaved family is available up to 13 months following the death of a patient. Periodic checks are made to assure the family is handling their grief appropriately, with counseling, support groups, and other involvement being encouraged as needed. 