Hospice care is considered end-of-life care for someone with a life-expectancy of six months or less. A team of health care professionals and volunteers provides this care with medical, emotional and spiritual support. The care goal is to help those at the end of life have peace, comfort and dignity. Support for families is provided as well.
To help you better understand this kind of care, we’re here to ease the decision-making process and explain when it might be time to begin hospice care.
Signs to Look for
Hospice care is meant to uplift you and your loved ones with compassionate care and comfort so that you can enjoy your time together to the fullest. Signs it might be time for hospice care include:
- A decline in overall physical/mental status
- A need for help with most daily activities (bathing, dressing, toileting, eating)
- Continuous use of oxygen
- Difficulty swallowing
- Frequent hospitalizations or emergency-room visits
- Multiple medical problems or diagnoses
- Profound weakness or fatigue
- Recurrent edema/swelling
- Repeat infections (pneumonia, bronchitis, urinary tract infections)
- Shortness of breath or chest pain while resting
- Significant, unintentional weight loss in the last six months
- Uncontrolled pain or vomiting
If these symptoms look familiar, it may be time to reach out for help from our caring hospice team. We’ll work with you in providing personalized daily care.
Our Hospice Care
Your hospice care team may include a primary care physician, a hospice physician, a nurse case manager, a social worker, a volunteer coordinator, chaplain, hospice aide and a bereavement counselor — all of whom can provide quality-of-life-focused care.
The hospice services we provide include:
- 24-hour, on-call medical staff and nurse support
- Advanced care planning
- Caregiver support
- Grief support
- Inpatient units
- Medication support
- Resources for patients and families
Choosing where to receive hospice care is a deeply personal decision, and your comfort is our top priority. Hospice care can be provided at home or in a nursing home, assisted-living facility or an inpatient unit at one of our hospitals. Make sure to talk through your options with your care team and family to make the best decision.
We’re With You at Every Step
When the time comes for hospice care, our teams are here to help you explore all your options, and you can rest assured that we’ll be with you every step of the way. We understand the complex feelings this time of life brings, and we’ll support you physically, emotionally and spiritually, keeping your comfort in mind.
No matter your stage of life, know that our teams will treat and care for your whole-person health. For more information on the hospice care we can provide for you and your family, visit us here.
