Friday, September 28, 2018

What are the public health challenges to provide (Hospice and Palliative care in Dallas/Fort-Worth)

Hospice and Palliative care improve the quality of life of the terminally ill patient. It includes pain management, depression management, Social engagement, spiritual activities, management of symptoms which help to improve the quality of life but do not attempt to cure the terminal illness.


Hospice and Palliative care does not tend to increase the lifespan or cure the terminal illness. It helps patients to die with the least pain and emotional distress. Hospice care also helps families to handle the stress of loss of loved ones.

Following are Public health changes to provide End of Life Care

 1. How easily End of life care is available to the population: 
Percentage of terminally ill patients who utilize Hospice or Palliative care in the USA is lower than in many developed countries. In the last few years, Hospice services have been evolved as Home-based care, Inpatient care, Hospital-based care, and based in Assisted Living, Nursing home and independent senior living. Medicare and Medicaid cover Hospice and Palliative care expenses. 

2. Effectiveness Care

Another challenge of public health is the effectiveness of Hospice care. Following questions have to answer to check the effectiveness of Hospice and Palliative care.
  1. Does palliative care is adequate to minimize the pain of the patient?
  2. Does Hospice care diagnose and treat all conditions which help patients to improve the quality of end of life care?
  3. Does Hospice care reduces the mental stress and improve emotional state of the patient.
Does Hospice care effectively reduce the mental stress of the family members due to the loss of a loved one?


Hospice care in Dallas is easily accessible as it is available in the form of home-based care, Hospital-based care, Inpatient hospice based and based in other institutions like senior living, Nursing homes and Assisted Living.  

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Monday, May 21, 2018

Various aspects of pain management in Hospice Care


Pain management in hospice care is not just keeping the patient on a heavy dose of analgesics. Normally, Doctors, trained nurses are involved in this care process to make an end of life less painful. Hospice care does not encourage any treatment to recover from terminal illness, but it covers everything which can make the quality of life better.

Physical therapy may be helpful to overcome muscular pain and making patient independent for movement. This approach can reduce the pain and improve the quality of end of life.
Occupational therapy can also help to reduce the muscular pain and improve the ability to perform activities using upper limbs. This approach can help to improve the quality of life and reduce the pain in muscles and joints.
Spiritual exercises and practices can also help to reduce the stress and pain as patient’s acceptance of death improves with the involvement of spiritual counseling.
Dietitians can also help to make an end of life experience less painful by planning diet which has a positive effect on health and reduce any discomfort related to diet.
Sometimes it is not easy to control pain just by using pain medicines. With the involvement of Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Spiritual counselor, and dietitian can also help physicians to make an end of life care less painful and better quality.

Friday, February 9, 2018

Significance of discussion on topics which we do not like




Hospice care in Dallas/ Fort-Worth is evolving. Awareness about the importance of end of life care is
increasing with the passage of the time.Every life has an end. Death is a reality which no one can deny but most of us do not want to talk about the death. Periodically we hear news about the death of some family members, famous people and friends and we still do not relate it to us. We do not want to think about our own or immediate family members death. Let us consider some consequences of the unexpected death of someone close to us.
  1. Emotional Stress
  2. Crisis of Distribution of assets
  3. Question about Preferences for burial or disposal of dead body
  4. Crisis of Liabilities
  5. Crisis of Unresolved conflicts
  6. Crisis of Guardianships
A person who dies leaves behind family members in emotional stress which takes time to heal up. If we make death a common topic of discussion with family members it will be less stressful for them to face such an event.
Assets may include real state, investments, insurance, business and many others. It is always recommended to write a living will to state distribution and disposal of all assets.
Advanced directives include living will and Medical power of attorney. In the living will person defines what treatment client would or would not receive in case of medical crisis. A medical power of attorney involves designation of a person to act on client’s behalf if the client is not able to communicate due to the medical crisis.
Most of the people in Dallas/ Fort-Worth believe that they should talk about the end of life care but only small percentage have documented living will, the Medical power of attorney and ever talk to their doctor or attorney about it.

How to select the right Hospice company for your loved One

T erminal illness has several challenges associated with it. Emotional stress, Financial burden of loss of income and treatment. Most ...