Hospice Care Explained: What It Is and How It Supports Patients and Families

Agency

Jan 26

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, finding the right care and support is crucial.

What is hospice care? It’s a compassionate approach to end-of-life support. It offers tailored services that prioritize comfort, dignity, and holistic well-being for people in their final stages of life.

While some people think of hospice as giving up hope and accepting death, at Providence Home Health, we think of it as helping people live as well as possible for as long as possible. Hospice offers countless benefits to those with a terminal diagnosis and their loved ones.

If you’re considering hospice care, this guide will take you through everything you need to know. We’ll discuss what hospice entails and how exactly it can support you and your family.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is a specialized approach to care that focuses on enhancing comfort and quality of life for those with life-limiting illnesses. It’s a type of palliative care that aims to reduce pain and manage the symptoms of your illness. In other words, it helps you live as fully as possible in your final weeks or months.

Hospice differs from traditional medical care in that it no longer aims to provide a cure or prolong life. The goal shifts from curing an illness to ensuring a peaceful and comfortable end-of-life experience.

Hospice also offers a more holistic approach to care. It includes a multidisciplinary team of professionals who focus not just on the illness but on your “whole person.” The care prioritizes your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs, as well as those of your family and loved ones.

Hospice Care at Home

While hospice care can occur in hospitals, specialized facilities, or nursing homes, most people find greater comfort in receiving care in their own homes.

Remaining at home can provide a more comfortable, safe, and familiar environment. And this warmth and familiarity can greatly increase well-being in these precious final months.

Receiving hospice care at home gives you more time with family, enjoying the things you love. With doctors taking care of your health and hospice aides assisting with tasks around the home, you and your loved ones have more quality time to spend together.

Services Included in Hospice Care

Hospice care looks different for everyone. The services you or your loved one may receive will depend on your diagnosis and condition. When you enroll in hospice, your care coordinator will create a dedicated, individualized care plan. This plan will consider your health conditions, support needs, end-of-life preferences, and other factors.

Hospice care services may include:

Doctor and Nursing Services. Highly trained medical professionals provide continuous care and monitoring to ensure comfort and support. Access to registered nurses and doctors is available 24/7 in case of emergencies.

Pain Management. A tailored medication plan helps alleviate any pain and discomfort caused by your illness, enhancing quality of life until the end.

Medical Supplies and Durable Medical Equipment. Essential medical supplies and equipment can be delivered to your home for greater comfort.

Physical, Speech, or Occupational Therapies. Depending on your condition, specialized therapies may help improve physical abilities and well-being.

Hospice Aide Services. An aide provides personal care services and assistance with activities of daily living within the home, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Some aides also provide basic housekeeping services.

Dietary Counseling. Nutritional guidance and support are provided to help meet your dietary needs and preferences.

Emotional and Psychological Support. Professional counseling can help you and your family cope with the emotional challenges of end-of-life care.

Spiritual Support. Depending on your beliefs, spiritual guidance and support are offered to address your end-of-life spiritual needs.

Social Services. Assistance with practical and financial matters is available to ease the burden on your family.

Volunteer Companionship. Compassionate volunteers offer companionship, comfort, and conversation to those who may feel isolated or lonely.

Grief Counseling for Family Members. Counseling and support services are also offered to family members and loved ones to help navigate the grieving process.

Support for Families

One of the major benefits of hospice care is the continuous support it offers to your entire family. Hospice addresses the holistic needs of a patient and their loved ones, providing emotional, spiritual, and practical assistance to everyone during a challenging time.

Ways in which hospice supports your family:

Respite for Family Caregivers. Hospice services offer some much-needed respite for family caregivers. It allows you to take a break and tend to your own needs while knowing that your loved one is in safe hands. This respite can help prevent unnecessary stress and caregiver burnout.

Education and Guidance on End-of-Life Care. Your hospice team can help educate you on ways to better care for your loved one using end-of-life tools, assistive aids, and resources.

Keeps You Informed. Hospice providers help simplify medical jargon and inform you about your loved one's condition. They ensure your family has all of the information necessary to make complex decisions.

Facilitating Communication. Coordination can become challenging with a team of healthcare professionals and caregivers looking after your loved one. Your hospice team will help facilitate communication and coordinate care for the best experience possible.

More Quality Time Together. By managing your loved one's needs, hospice gives you more time to focus on making meaningful memories and cherishing the time you have left together.

Bereavement Support. Hospice care doesn’t end when your loved one passes. Most providers offer ongoing bereavement support to help family members navigate the grieving process. This support can come in the form of counseling, support groups, and resources.

How to Choose a Hospice Care Provider

If you’re thinking that hospice care might be the right choice for your family, the next step is choosing the best care provider for your needs.

Start by asking within your network for suggestions. Ask your doctor, family members, and friends if they have any home care providers they recommend. You can also look online for hospice care providers in your area.

Factors to consider when choosing a hospice care provider:

Accreditation. Ensure the provider you’re considering is accredited by one of these organizations: Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), The Joint Commission (TJC), or Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP).

Reputation and Reviews. Research the provider's reputation within the community. Look for testimonials and online reviews. Ask for feedback from other families who've used their services if possible.

Services Offered. Does the provider offer a comprehensive range of services, including physical, emotional, and spiritual support tailored to your needs?

Specialized Care. If your loved one requires any specialized care, like for late-stage dementia, check if the provider has experience in this area.

Staff Qualifications. Ask the provider about their staff’s qualifications, training, and experience working in end-of-life care.

Check Insurance Coverage. Make sure that Medicare, Medicaid, or your private insurance provider covers the hospice care provider you’re considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for hospice care?

Hospice eligibility typically requires you to have a life-limiting illness where the life expectancy is estimated at six months or less, should the illness run its natural course.

How long can I receive hospice care?

Hospice care is initially certified for six months, but it can be extended in two-month periods after that timeframe.

Is hospice care covered by insurance?

Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies cover hospice care. Each health insurance provider may have its own set of criteria for hospice eligibility. It's best to check with your provider.

Can I stop hospice care?

If your condition starts to improve or new curative treatments become available, you can discontinue hospice at any point.

Hospice Care in Oklahoma City: Providence Home Care Approach

Providence Home Care is a fully-certified home care agency based in Oklahoma City, offering in-home hospice care to various clients with life-limiting illnesses.

We take a compassionate and holistic approach to hospice care, helping provide comfort and maximizing your quality of life until the end. We want to help take care of the hard stuff, so you can enjoy your final months making precious memories with loved ones.

Micah White