Hospice Care Services

Hospice care has several elements that distinguish it from other health care.

Interdisciplinary Team: Typically, care involves a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, home health aides, clergy, therapists, and volunteers. Together, they provide comprehensive palliative care aimed at providing supportive social, emotional, and spiritual care services.

Pain and Symptom Control: The objective of pain and symptom control is to help patients to be comfortable while allowing them to remain in control of their life.

Spiritual Care: Hospice care places a strong emphasis on the spiritual needs of the patient and family. since patients differ in their spiritual needs and religious beliefs, spiritual care is individualized to meet the specific needs of each patient.

Home Care and Inpatient Care: Although hospice care can be centered in the home, it may be necessary to admit the patient to a hospital or extended care facility. The hospice can arrange for inpatient care and will stay involved in the patient's treatment and with the family.

Bereavement Care: Bereavement is the time of mourning following a loss. The hospice care team works with surviving family members to help them through the grieving process. A trained volunteer or professional counselor provides support to survivors either through visits, phone calls and/or letter contact as well as support groups.

Respite Care: The patient's family and caregivers need time away from the intensity of caring for a terminally ill individual. respite care is designed to give families and caregivers a break from care giving.

Family Conferences: Through regularly scheduled family conferences, often facilitated by the hospice nurse or social worker, family members can stay informed about the patient's condition and what they can expect.

Volunteers: Hospice volunteers play an important role in the administration and delivery of hospice care in the US. Volunteers may be health professionals or lay people who provide services ranging from hands-on care to working in the hospice office or fundraising.

Staff Support; Hospice care involves staff who are emphatic, good communicators and listeners, and who are interested in working with people who have a life-threatening illness. Yet because the work is emotionally draining, it is essential that support is available to help staff deal with the work-related stress that they may experience.

Coordination of Care: The interdisciplinary team coordinates and supervises all care 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. They are responsible for communications between the inpatient facility, the home care agency, the physician, and other community professionals.