The purpose of Hospice Care is to provide a compassionate in-home changeover to individuals with life-limiting illnesses. From pain relief to medication management, in-home hospice brings the care and professionals directly to your loved one. Most health insurance will cover all hospice professionals, along with most medications to alleviate pain. Your assigned team will assist you in managing your care needs. Their goal’s to ensure that your loved one receives the required medical supplies, attention, and transitioning help.
If you have questions about hospice,
call us at (702) 509-5276 or contact us online.
Transitioning to Hospice Care
Transitioning from a hospital with curative management care as the focal point, to in-home hospice care, can be a difficult time for the entire family. But after the Primary Care Physician has determined your loved one’s condition and that hospice care is needed, your team of Hospice Professionals will immediately move into action to assist with the new way of life. This type of care is also available for a person living in a nursing home.
Hospice care is not about giving up. It’s about transitioning to a new lifestyle and allowing the patient and family to remain in control of their services.
Hospice Professionals and Their Roles
After the Primary Care Physician has determined that in-home care is the best option, the family and loved one can expect calls for appointments from different Hospice Professionals:
- Social Worker: In some cases, the social worker is usually the first person to visit the family, to plan the type of care that is needed. This person will provide additional instructions about the kind of care, assist the family’s point of contact with setting up expectations, understands the needs of the family, and finally, develops a report to begin the management of care.
- Physician: Physician care is needed to pick up where the loved one’s primary care physician left off. The doctor will need to determine pain medications, the frequency of medications, and other care that is needed.
- Bereavement Counselors: Bereavement counselors can range from a church clergy member to licensed psychologists, if necessary. They support your loved ones with the loss and grief process.
- Registered Nurses: There is usually a primary nurse that is the first point of contact for the family. This nurse makes sure information about care management is disseminated to the other hospice professionals.
- Therapists: Therapists are part of the Hospice team and can include speech, occupational, or physical therapists.
- Home Health Aides: Not to confused with the nurses, home health aides provide hands-on personal care, such as bathing.
- Medical Equipment: Sometimes a loved may need specialized equipment delivered to the home by a separate company. This also includes medical supplies, such as bandages for wound care.
Additional Resources to Consider
Medicaid and Medicare cover Hospice care. You can read about the Medicare Hospice Benefit to determine what is covered or not and if your loved one qualifies for this benefit. You can also learn more about the different levels of hospice care as defined by Medicare.
In the meantime, contact Omni Care Hospice online or call us at 702-509-5276 to understand how to start managing end of life care for your loved one.
