Re:patient and family
2006-07-06 07:38:11 · 8 answers · asked by Patches 5 in Health ➔ Other - Health
I'm assuming you are in the US, where Hospice is more defined and regulated that many countries ( except UK, where things got started!)
Hospice is a program of care for individuals who have been given a prognosis by their physician, of 6 months to live or less, based on the usual course of the disease. The individual may live much longer ( or shorter) than the 6 months, but most agencies and insurance companies pay for the services with 6 months as a guideline.
Hospice provides comprehensive care for the patient, and their family, and focuses on the whole person - physical, social, and spiritual.
A team works with the patient to assist the patient to address whatever the goals may be - it could be symptom control (like pain management), quality of life, spiritual comfort, or many things.
The team is made of up physician(s), nurses, social workers, spiritual care providers, home health aides, therapists, and more.
A Medicare-certified hospice ( which most are today in the US), must provide not only all the support as listed above, but also provides for all the supplies, equipment, and medications the patient needs to help with the terminal illness.
Want to know more? Go to the NHPCO web site - or call your local hospice!
2006-07-08 15:17:34 · answer #1 · answered by kay 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi! I can only answer you from how hospices operate here in the UK but I imagine that they will do the same thing in the states. Hospices offer care and support to the terminally ill. They are treated by doctors and nurses just as they would be in a normal hospital, the difference being, in a hospice the treatment given is to alleviate pain and suffering, not to make the patient recover as by the time they are in a hospice then, medically, nothing can be done. The whole aim of hospices is to make a patients final days as comfortable, pain free and when the end comes, as dignified as possible.
Dying is discussed openly with patients if they so wish, and many find it a great comfort to be able to talk about their fears and ask the questions that many in normal hospitals would never do.
Most people know that when they go into a hospice then it is really the end of the road and this gives them time to make their peace with their God, friends and family.
2006-07-06 14:50:46 · answer #2 · answered by ziggy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Last June ('05) My Girlfriend was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. By the end of July she was hospitalized and was fading. The hospital was understaffed and haldol became the primary ingrediant in her care. She felt strong enough to get out bed to use the bathroom but because of staff problems,they felt it was easier to keep her sedated. Then they'd get irritated when she soiled the bed. Her sister happened to come in when one of the night nurses was being less than kind. She pitched a major fit and immediately arranged for us to move up to her house in the mountains, where she arranged for in-house Hospice care. They set up a hospital bed and oxygen and her meds and came by at least every other day to ensure that all was well. They told me what to expect and what the stages would be like. They talked to me and held my hand when I needed it, when I had to cry. They also helped me with grief counceling after. Hospice is Good.
2006-07-06 15:06:27 · answer #3 · answered by Dutch58 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am a home health supervisor and the answer is hospice comes in 6 months before a person is supposed to pass away to provide 24 hour care to give them the right medicines to make them comforatable enough so that they can stay home instead of being put in a nursing home hope that helps
2006-07-06 14:54:29 · answer #4 · answered by cupcake_gurl03 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they pump you or your family member full of morphine until they die. once you enter hospice, your treatment changes from looking for a cure to pain management. their only concern is to keep you comfortable until you die.
2006-07-06 14:49:29 · answer #5 · answered by mcrine1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my mother works at Hospice, email me if you want to hear what she has to say...
2006-07-06 14:41:19 · answer #6 · answered by Megan P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would like to hear more about it, and I am sure that other people would too. Please post the answer.
My father is 85 and mom is 80....
2006-07-06 14:42:14 · answer #7 · answered by starting over 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
beginning -you are admitted...
you die.. the end
2006-07-06 14:41:54 · answer #8 · answered by Mopar Muscle Gal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋