A primary goal of hospice care is to provide the patient with a life expectancy of six months or less with comfort and support. In addition, hospice services allow patients to focus on their goals and spend more quality time with their families. Terminally ill patients still need a wide range of medical care. This may include changing bandages, catheters, and other necessary equipment.
Dietary counseling is another critical component of ongoing medical care, as is potential inpatient care if an emergency arises. This difficult time of transition affects the patient's mental and emotional health. Mental health services help relieve this stress, allowing patients to maintain a more positive attitude. Caregivers may also be eligible for counseling services, which can help avoid the burnout that often accompanies caring for a sick loved one.
Many people who are diagnosed with a terminal illness have to deal with mobility problems and other symptoms that can make everyday tasks difficult. These patients can benefit from having hospice professionals or personal care assistants at home to help them with personal care. From bathing and cutting their hair to eating and dressing, these services help the patient feel more like themselves and be more in control of their situation. Both the patient and their primary caregivers may need emotional counseling and grief support.
Fortunately, this therapy is available and services continue after the patient's death. This gives the caregiver the support they need to transition from being a caregiver and dealing with their loss. Unlike other medical care, the goal of hospice care is not to cure the underlying disease. The goal is to support the highest possible quality of life for as long as it remains.
Therefore, it is essential to communicate these wishes with the hospice physician and care team as often as possible. Some hospice patients want to be left alone, while others want continued support and care from their families and the people around them. Patient comfort is the primary goal of hospice care and is impossible to achieve while pain and other distressing symptoms remain unaddressed. The 24-hour assistance required by hospice patients can overwhelm even the most dedicated families, resulting in burnout and an imbalance between care and life.
Hospice professionals also recognize the mental and emotional stress that people dealing with a life-threatening condition must endure. Hospice professionals will review important documents such as advance care directives with the patient. Its roots date back to the Middle Ages, but it was developed in its current form by Dr. Cicely Saunders at St Christopher's Hospice in London.
When a medical condition is terminal, hospice care works to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Interfaith spiritual comfort is provided by knowledgeable hospice professionals who recognize the value of believing in a higher power. With the support of good hospice care, your loved one can get the treatment they need to feel comfortable in their final days. If you don't receive hospice care at a dedicated facility, hospice staff will make regular visits to your home or other environment.
Hospice services provide the guidance caregivers need, helping them define their role and perform it more efficiently. Read on to learn more about the goals of compassionate end-of-life care and how hospice care can benefit you or your loved one. You don't need to wait until your primary care doctor or specialist suggests hospice care to receive an evaluation. .
