If you have an aging loved one facing a life-limiting illness who is nearing their final days, it may be time to consider hospice care. While end-of-life care is never easy to discuss, hospice can provide the support your loved one - and you and your family - will need during this challenging time. Every patient with home hospice services has a hospice team that will make regular visits in your home. Visits may consist of anything from evaluating pain to educating the patient and family on medication. It is our goal to empower you, while providing comfort. 24/7 on-call services are also available for emergencies and to avoid unnecessary hospital visits. Below are answers to some of the most common questions regarding hospice care.

What Is Hospice Care? Hospice care provides a wide range of services for both the patient and family. Your hospice agency will assign a RN Case Manager to oversee your loved one’s care and provide resources for any services you may require above and beyond standard hospice needs. This could include something such as access to a caregiver support group.

Once the Case Manager has assessed your loved one’s needs, a schedule will be arranged for a hospice RN to assess and become familiar with the patient’s physical and emotional needs. Our goal is to provide comfort. By knowing our patient on the “good days” we are better able to plan and coordinate care when he/she is having a bad day. The nurse will work directly with your loved one’s primary care physician, which will reduce the frequency of outside healthcare appointments. The nurse may also order medical health aides as needed. This could include a hospital bed, oxygen tank, continence care items, and other tools to help keep your loved one safe, clean, and comfortable.

Aside from the nurse, hospice may also provide a home health aide who can assist with bathing and other non-medical care needs, a chaplain for spiritual care needs, and hospice volunteers for additional moral and emotional support.

Hospice will set a schedule for how frequently they will visit your loved one, which will range based on your specific needs and the progression of the illness. However, you will have access to a 24-hour emergency line.

Hospice care typically begins within 24 hours of a physician referral, as long as medical equipment and pharmacy needs are accommodated.

How Do You Find The Best Hospice Services For Your Loved One? In most cases your loved one’s primary care physician will recommend hospice care. At that point, the patient and family can choose whichever hospice provider they prefer. Most hospice companies will require a referral from a healthcare provider—and will continually work with a healthcare provider while managing your loved one’s care.

If your loved one does not have a regular healthcare provider, you can also research local hospice providers by contacting or working with:

The Hospital Discharge Planner The Local Agency On Aging The American Cancer Society Your Church Your Loved One’s Social Worker

Also keep in mind that the Department of Health and Medicare can provide a list of local hospice agencies.

How Does Hospice Help You And Your Loved One? While hospice staff is visiting with you in your home, their presence can make a world of difference. Not only does hospice allow your loved one to spend their final days in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by friends and family, but they keep your loved one as comfortable as possible.

There are healthcare-related concerns that need

to be managed during your loved ones final days, and hospice will provide guidance and solutions. This includes managing pain, guiding you on how to reposition and transfer your loved one, increased frequency or changes to medications, and guidance for continence care.

The hospice volunteer is available to help take some of the daily tasks off of your plate—this might include running errands, light housekeeping, basic meal preparation, emotional support, and respite care so that family members can catch up on sleep—or get out of the house for a few hours.

How Is Hospice Paid For? The hospice company you reach out to will contact your loved one’s insurance provider to determine their eligibility and coverage. In most cases Medicare covers hospice services.

Hospice care can provide peace of mind for you and your family and comfort for your declining loved one. While this will be a challenging time for you and your family, hospice will help to lighten your load—and ensure that your loved one has all the support they require. Good Samaritan Hospice, a mission of Concordia, offers in-home hospice care in Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Armstrong, Lawrence, Westmoreland, Mercer, and Clarion counties, and inpatient hospice services in Wexford, Cabot and Heritage Valley Hospital in Beaver. To learn more about how hospice care can provide support to you and your loved ones, visit www.good-samaritanhospice.org today.

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