When the time is right for hospice care, you want to find compassionate people to help your loved one cope with illness and feel safe and comfortable.
Likewise, you — and each member of your family — deserve the support of a whole team of people to guide you through this challenging time.
Hospice care is not merely a service that helps you and your loved one make the most of your time together. It also offers emotional and spiritual healing for the whole family.
Having a hospice care team means your family can lean on the deep compassion and endless support of a group of specialists who will guide you through this journey.
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice isn't a place, but a way of caring that brings comfort to people with a life-limiting illness or who need more assistance with older age. The focus is on enhancing a patient’s quality of life. Each patient and their caregivers receive individualized care that meets their unique physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
When you need us, our caring team will be here to provide comprehensive hospice services, including pain management and quality of life care, so you and your loved ones can focus on what matters most: spending quality time together.
Meet Your Hospice Care Team
As you prepare to help your loved one transition into hospice care, take comfort in knowing that your family will be supported every step of the way.
Your hospice care team comprises health care experts and compassionate people who can help your loved one feel whole physically, mentally and spiritually.
Each person on your hospice team — from doctors to hospice staff to trained volunteers — will work with your family to ensure you are always the leading voice in your loved one’s hospice experience.
Your Loved One’s Primary Caregiver
You may be your loved one’s primary caregiver, or it may be another family member, a loyal friend or a hired caregiver. This person provides necessary daily care to your loved one with the support of the entire hospice care team.
Your Loved One’s Physician
Your loved one’s doctor has been there with them every step of the way. They may continue to do so throughout hospice care if you so choose. Your loved one’s physician is already intimately familiar with their medical history, which helps them provide informed care during hospice, too.
Hospice Physicians
Hospice physicians are the compassionate people who coordinate your loved one’s care plan. These doctors work closely with other hospice team members and your loved one’s physician to manage physical symptoms with care.
Hospice Nurses
Hospice nurses coordinate your loved one’s care plan with the physician and the rest of the hospice team. They manage symptoms and pain to ensure they are as comfortable as possible.
Your hospice nurse can also educate your family on using medical supplies and equipment and how to properly administer medications.
Home Health Aides
Even a simple task can become challenging if your loved one is seriously ill. Home health aides fill an important role by providing personal, in-home care to your loved ones. Your aide may help with bathing, grooming, preparing light meals and changing bed linens and bandages.
Chaplains
Spiritual caregivers are key parts of your hospice care team and support the traditions and beliefs of all cultures and religions. Your chaplain can discuss spiritual matters, answer questions, pray with you or help meet religious or spiritual obligations. If needed, they can also assist with funeral plans and services.
Social Workers
Depending on your loved one’s needs and concerns, they may want to talk about their priorities, may need help resolving a family conflict or may need help understanding their illness or health condition.
A social worker can help your loved one in each of these areas, as well as help complete advance directives, connect families to community resources and provide emotional support and counseling.
Trained Volunteers
Specially trained volunteers complete many tasks that make your day easier. They can run errands, do light housekeeping and provide companionship for your loved one. If necessary, volunteers can stay with your loved one, allowing you to take a breather.
Bereavement Counselors
When you or another family member needs guidance navigating grief, even before losing a loved one, bereavement counselors are here to help.
Bereavement counselors are important members of your hospice care team available during hospice care and beyond, providing individual and group grief support to your entire family.
Focusing on the Beauty of the Journey
The goal of hospice care is to make the transition through the final stages of a health condition more comfortable and peaceful for your loved one — and the whole family.
Working as a team with hospice can help comfort your family and allow your loved ones to have the peace and dignity they deserve during their most difficult days.
Hospice Care You Can Count On
While your family member or loved one receives hospice care, we want you to be able to focus on them with the peace of mind that your AdventHealth hospice team will handle all the details.
Learn more about when to begin hospice care, the different types of support available to you, volunteer services and whole-person care for your entire family.
