The word death comes from Old English
dēaþ, which in turn comes from Proto-Germanic *dauþuz (reconstructed by
etymological analysis). This comes from the Proto-Indo-European stem *dheu-
meaning the "process, act, condition of dying".
Death is the center of many traditions and organizations; customs relating to
death are a feature of every culture around the world. Much of this revolves
around the care of the dead, as well as the afterlife and the disposal of
bodies upon the onset of death. The disposal of human corpses does, in general,
begin with the last offices before a significant time has passed, and
ritualistic ceremonies often occur, most commonly burial or cremation. This is
not a unified practice; in Tibet, for instance, the body is given a sky burial
and left on a mountaintop. Proper preparation for death and techniques and
ceremonies for producing the ability to transfer one's spiritual attainments
into another body (reincarnation) are subjects of detailed study in Tibet. Mummification
or embalming is also prevalent in some cultures, to retard the rate of decay.
A walk through the park on the way to a meeting feels like an
obstacle, but a walk in the park for no reason at all feels like a luxury and a
joy. Have you lost touch with the innate playful spirit you had when you were a
child? See if you can bring it back. Make time to do things for the sake of
enjoyment, and bring an attitude of fun and play to your daily life and
experiences.
It is not wrong for men to possess riches. But the Bible warns that money
cannot buy happiness! Money cannot buy true pleasure. Money cannot buy peace of
heart. And money certainly cannot buy entrance into the Kingdom of God. Often
money is a hindrance to these things. Money takes our minds off God. Riches,
when used selfishly rather than for the glory of God, tend to corrupt in our
hands. Money cannot be a substitute for God. If God has given you more wealth
than your neighbors, dedicate it to Christ. Realize that you are only a steward
of that which God has given you and someday you will have to give an account of
every penny you have spent. The Internal Revenue Service wants a record of how
you spend your money, but that is nothing compared to the books God is keeping.
“Life is good if we live in such a way to make it so.” This was a part of an
inspirational message I read many years ago. What the message calls “a good
life” comes as a result of the way we do things, of the words we choose to say,
and even of the kind of thoughts we choose to have.
Yes, my beloved brothers and sisters, life is good if we live in such a way to make
it so. Believing, desiring, deciding, and choosing correctly are the simple
actions that define an increase in happiness and an increase in the inner
assurance that transcends this life.
I am blessed to have so many great things in my life - family, friends, and
God. All will be in my thoughts daily. Lil' Kim Life, Family, Daily
There is a saying which goes, "Worrying is like praying for what you don't
want." In most instances, worrying about the future is no more logical or
warranted than expecting a positive outcome -- in fact, your life experience
likely shows that most things work out in the end. So save yourself from the
emotional turmoil of worrying, and cultivate a mindset based on optimism,
positive expectation and trust.
Occasionally we hear anecdotal accounts about individuals who grew up in
troubled homes but fought against all odds and became very wealthy. “Such
stories are sometimes cited as evidence that they made the best of a bad thing,
turning out well despite or because of their unhappy childhoods,” explains a
report on happiness in the San Francisco Chronicle. “The problem with this
interpretation, according to research, is that they may not have turned out so
well after all. They just turned out wealthy.”
What I love about Thanksgiving is that it's purely about getting together with
friends or family and enjoying the food. It's really for everybody, and it
doesn't matter where you're from. Daniel Humm Love, Family, Thanksgiving
King Solomon experimented with pleasures to see if they held the secret to
happiness. “I will plunge into pleasures and enjoy myself,” he said. This
wealthy king did not wade into them timidly. No, he dived into pleasures! Yet,
how did he feel afterward? “This too was emptiness,” he wrote.—Ecclesiastes
2:1, New English Bible.
A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s window shouted…
“Dad, look the trees are going behind!”
Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with pity, suddenly he again exclaimed…
“Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”
The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man…
“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?” The old man smiled and said…“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.”
Every single person on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them. The truth might surprise you.
A Public service message by Ameriprime Hospice.
In other instances, Hospice care
is going to be provided at a hospice center, a skilled nursing facility or just
a hospital. This extra care doesn't have to be in the physical form. however,
it may also be in the form psychological. Health care is understood to be a run
of healthcare procedures that are undertaken to guarantee the continued
well-being of an individual. This health care forms a vital portion of every
senior citizen of the nation. The facilities are targeted at
providing help to the residents in every element of their everyday living. For
their nearest and dearest, most men and women elect for assisted living
facilities. Assisted living facilities are also for the people who love their
independence and can do a bulk of their everyday chores by themselves, leave
aside a couple. They function with the sole aim to provide them with the care
and attention that you are unable to provide. A life care facility in the shape
of continuing care retirement community provides independent living together with
assisted living.
Getting best hospice care in
Dallas-Fortworth is now possible as many providers are offering great
service.While picking a nursing home, it's essential to think about the real
needs of the patients. Getting into a hospice program may be a tough selection
both for that patient and their loved ones. Besides these factors, selecting a
product which was made to fit their needs is crucial.
An individual can be
ill-programmed for life, not realize it. There's also the more varied and
active life that your son or daughter leads. Finally, all I'd love to say is
that there are two varieties of people in this world. You mean the entire world
to me and I truly secure sad when you're hurt. The majority of the moment, you
will observe that finding your real goal is as easy as listening to your heart.
After you determine this, you will have the ability to find your true intent.
Ultimately, finding your purpose in life may be an intriguing journey.
One of the greatest ways to
produce your love ones happy is to give them a little something extra, aside
from the monetary compensation they receive. It's a tough to pull through but
it has to be met daily. Certain things might need to change, be implemented or
removed. Hence, envisioning having a surplus of money is most likely not the
very best way to begin getting the things you desire. To me, the actual key is
to reach higher and entertain the notion your life doesn't necessarily need to
be this manner. Concentrate on the authentic end product which you desire and
don't even contaminate that thought with the notion of money.
How mindfulness can redefine pain, depression, anxiety, happiness, and satisfaction in Hospice patients
We born
in different environments, Conditions, and opportunities in life. Experience of
every individual is different from other in many ways. For our understanding,
we can consider Education, wealth, family life, friends, legacy as different
forms of achievements of life. We associate our happiness with these
achievements and spend time in worrying about how to achieve them. We are only
happy for a short period of time after every achievement and most of our life
we are worried about seeking achievement to be happy.
Mind
fullness is to observe yourself in present with intention, compassion,
gratefulness and without judgment. If we train our brain to observe ourselves
in present and start realizing the blessings we have, we can easily tolerate
daily challenges, stresses, pains and problems of the life.
Dying
patients have some common challenges which are the pain, depression
hopelessness. These problems can easily be handled with the help of
mindfulness. Daily 30 minutes meditation When we should not have any regrets
about past and worries about facing death, be with your present and pay
attention to another day of your life you got, remove all negativities from
your mind, wishing well for everyone and be grateful to your God.
Daily
meditation with mindfulness can help dying patient to enjoy every day of the
end of life phase, help to reduce pain, worries and depression problems. It
helps to be happy and satisfied with the existing situation. We all must die one day but we do not train
ourselves for that phase which is a reality and greatest truth of the life.
Are you
confused how to visit terminally ill loved one
Everyone must face death one day. Visiting terminally ill patient is important as it
helps to relief patient and family members.
Visiting
terminally ill patient also benefits you in many ways. It gives an opportunity
to fulfill your responsibility towards society, teach yourself many lessons
about the way how we perceive the life and feel good by showing your love to
someone in pain.
You can
also imagine one day you might be in the same place and try to feel the
emotions of the patient. This will help you to face the reality of death.
You can
also benefit from this opportunity by comparing your life to the ultimate end
of your life. It is an opportunity to rethink what you are doing and what is
the purpose of your life. Is your life only for your or it has some meaningful
purpose.
You
should always keep the elements of empathy, respect, forgiveness and lesson
learning when you visit someone terminally ill to make your visit valuable.
The absence of psychiatric
disorders or traits. It can be
influenced by biological,
environmental, emotional and
cultural factors. This term is highly
variable in
definition, depending on time
and place.
Services related to the mental health
Comprehensive mental
health services, as generally defined under some national (or
state) laws and statutes, include: inpatient care, outpatient care,
day care and
other partial hospitalization and
emergency services;
specialized services for
the mental health of the
elderly; consultation and education
services and specialized programmes for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of
alcohol and drug abusers. They generally
include a variety of services provided to people of all ages, including counseling, psychotherapy, psychiatric services, crisis
intervention and support groups. Issues
addressed include depression, grief, anxiety, and stress, as well as
severe mental illnesses.
Mental Illness
All forms of illness in which psychological, emotional or behavioral
disturbances are the dominating feature. The term is relative and variable
in different cultures, schools of thought and definitions. It includes a wide range of types and
severities.
Mental Impairment
A disorder characterized by the display of an intellectual defect, as
manifested by diminished cognitive, interpersonal, social and vocational
effectiveness and quantitatively evaluated by psychological examination and
assessment.
Informational Guide to Choosing the
Best Hospice Care
What is Hospice Care?Hospice Care Definition
Hospice care
is provided to terminally ill patients who have a life expectancy of less than
six months. Every patient has right to die without bodily and emotional pain.
The primary focus behind hospice care is making patients feel comfortable,
stable, and dignified during their final months of living. In addition, hospice
care improves the quality of life for the patients but it does not help prolong
life. Aside from the focus on the patients and their experience, hospice care
ensures that they families are able to handle the emotional stress and trauma
that is related to death.
Curative
treatment is an approach in which the goal is to cure the disease and to
prolong life at all costs.
Palliative
care is not curative in nature but is designed to relieve pain and distress and
to control the symptoms of the disease. Symptoms that palliative care focuses
on relieving include: pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, malnutrition,
dyspnea or air hunger, psycho-social and spiritual issues, weight loss,
dehydration, weakness, risk for skin impairment, depression, Sleeplessness and
insomnia.
Patient and Caregiver Education
The way
hospice care is planned should affect the patient and caregiver in an honest
and straightforward method. It is thought that the fear of the unknown is
always greater than the fear of the known. Educating the caregiver in symptom
management, hands-on care of the patient, caring for body functions, and
teaching regarding the signs and symptoms of approaching hospice patient are
important to relieve fears.
How to Initiate Hospice Care
To initiate
hospice care, the attending physician must certify that the patient’s illness
is terminal and that the patient has a prognosis of 6 months or less to live.
The patient must be willing to forego any further curative treatment and be
willing to seek only palliative care. The patient and caregiver must understand
and agree that the care will be planned based on the comfort of the patient, and
that life-support measures may not necessarily be performed. The patient and
caregiver must also understand the prognosis and be willing to participate in
the planning of the care.
Admission to
a hospice program is the decision of the patient and their family, because not
all people need or desire hospice care. Autonomy is one of the attributes of
quality of health care. The patient or family should be the center of all-important
decisions taken in regard’s to the patient’s care, and there shouldn’t be any
decisions made without consulting the patient or their family first.
Objectives of Hospice Care
Managing
symptoms and improving the quality of life without life prolonging measures is
the main objective of hospice care. Allowing the patient and caregiver to be
involved in the decisions regarding the plan of care is a primary aspect of
hospice care, as well as encouraging the patient and caregiver to live life to
the fullest. Other objectives include: providing continuous support to maintain
patient/family confidences and reassurances to achieve these goals, educating
and supporting the primary caregiver in the home setting that the patient
chooses, and providing a clear understanding of death related issues as it
affects much on the performance of caregivers and the quality of hospice care.
Pediatric Hospices
81 million
children in the United States require pediatric hospice care. In the United
States alone, there are 2.5 million deaths annually. About 50,000 deaths are
pediatric 0-19 (2.2%). Children represent 25% of the US population. Half of
childhood deaths are in the first year of life, while half of infant deaths are
in the first month of life.
Pediatric Palliative Care Diagnosis
There are conditions for which curative treatment is possible but may
fail. The following are common diagnosis in children, which make them eligible
to receive hospice care.
•Genetic/Congenital
(40%)
•Neuromuscular
(40%)
•Oncologic
(20%)
•Respiratory
(12%)
•Gastrointestinal
(10%)
•Cardiovascular
(8%)
•Advanced
or progressive cancer or cancer with a poor prognosis
•Complex
and severe congenital or acquired heart disease
Models of Care
Hospice care
can be provided in the following settings and situations:
•Inpatient
consultation palliative care teams
•Inpatient
palliative care
•Home
hospice
•Perinatal
and neonatal hospice
•Concurrent
care
•Respite
Hospice
Family Support-Know What Hospice Provides
Hospice care includes a diverse range of
services and forms of medical care. The care is done through daily activities to
minimize the stress for patients and their families. Among its major responsibilities, the interdisciplinary
hospice team manages the patient’s pain and symptoms. They also assist the
patient with the emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual aspects of dying.
The interdisciplinary team provides the
necessary drugs, medical supplies, and equipment, and they instruct the family
on how to care for the patient outside of the hospice. In addition, they
deliver special services like speech and physical therapy when needed. They
also make short-term inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too
difficult to treat at home, or when the caregiver needs respite. And lastly,
they provide bereavement care and counseling to the surviving family and
friends of the patient.
A Great Team Can Make the Difficult
Time Easy
Hospice care has diverse aspects and it requires a wide range of
services. A multi professional health team works together in caring for the
terminally ill patient. They develop and supervise the plan of care in
conjunction with all of those involved with the care. The interdisciplinary
team considers all aspects of the family unit, providing support to both the
dying patient and to the caregiver. The family is included in all decisions and
care planning because the care provided is patient-centric.
Medical Director
Every hospice should have
a doctor of medicine or osteopathy. They are known as the medical director and
they assume the overall responsibility for the medical component of the hospice
patient’s care program. The act as a consultant for the attending physician,
and they serve as a mediator between the interdisciplinary team and the
attending physician. The medical director plays a major role in creating
successful teamwork.
Nurse Coordinator
Every hospice should have
a registered nurse who coordinates the implementation of the plan of care for each
patient. They are in charge of performing the initial assessment, admitting the
patient to the hospice program, and developing the plan of care along with the
interdisciplinary team. The nurse coordinator also ensures the plan of care is
being followed, and they coordinate the assignments of the hospice nurses and
aides, facilitate meetings, and determine the methods of payments. The nurse
coordinator is vital in controlling the quality of care.
Social Worker
Social workers evaluate
and assess the psychosocial needs of the patient. They assist with community
resources and filing insurance papers. They also support the patient and
caregiver with emotional and grief issues. In addition, social workers assist
with counseling when communication difficulties are present. The role of social
workers helps in bridging the gaps between the patient family and the hospice
company.
Spiritual Coordinator
Spiritual coordinators must
have a seminary degree but can be affiliated with any church. The spiritual coordinator
is the liaison between the spiritual community and the interdisciplinary team.
They assist with the spiritual assessment of the patient, and they work closely
with the family to maintain their beliefs. They also develop the plan of care
regarding spiritual matters. In addition, they assist the patient and caregiver
in coping with fears and uncertainty. Lastly, they assist with funeral planning
and performing funeral services. This role is very important for maintaining the
public image of the hospice company.
Volunteer Coordinator
The volunteer coordinator
must have experience in volunteer work. They are responsible for assessing the
needs of the patient and caregiver for volunteer services. They provide companionship,
caregiver relief through respite care, and emotional support. Volunteers may
read to the patient, sit with the patient, or do grocery shopping or yard work.
Volunteers can improve the quality of life by spending more time on things,
which are not directly related to medical care.
Bereavement Coordinator
This position requires a
professional who has experience in dealing with grief issues. They assess the
patient and caregiver at admission to the hospice program and identify risk
factors that may be of concern following the death of the patient. They follow
the plan of care for the bereaved caregiver for at least a year following the
death. They may also provide counseling or refer to other counseling resources.
Hospice Pharmacist
Every hospice should have
a pharmacist who must be a licensed pharmacist and must be available for
consultation on the drugs the hospice patient may be taking. The hospice
pharmacist evaluates for drug-drug or drug-food interactions, appropriate drug
doses, and correct administration times and routes. The pharmacist is holds a
key role in preventing medication errors, and providing patient counseling
related to the medication errors.
Dietitian Consultant
The dietitian consultant
should be a licensed medical nutritional therapist (LMNTs), and should be
available for consultations and for diet counseling. The hospice nurse does
nutritional assessments at admission; if nutritional problems are noted, the
patient may be referred to an LMNT. This role is very important to improve the
quality of life of the hospice patient.
Hospice Aide
Hospice aides should be
certified nurse assistants who are supervised by the hospice nurses. They are
responsible for following the plan of care developed by the interdisciplinary
team. They assist the patient with bathing and personal care. They may also
assist the patient/caregiver with light housekeeping services.
Other Service Providers
The hospice team may also have some other professionals if needed, which
may include following positions:
·Physical
therapist
·Speech-language
pathologist
·Occupation
therapist
These
positions are not for rehabilitative services, but may be necessary to assist
with improving the quality of life and care for the patient and caregiver.
The Hospice’s Responsibility After a
Patient’s Death (Bereavement Period)
Hospice care
does not end once the patient dies but usually continues for at least 1 year
with bereavement support. Even though the family feels they have prepared for
the death, facing the future without the person who died is difficult. The hospice
staff also goes through a grieving period for each patient who dies. Each
hospice provides support to their staff with support meetings and time to vent
their feelings and to heal. This role of the hospice is vital to keep society
stable and healthy after losing the people who have had an affect on people’s
lives.
Ethical Issues in Hospice Care
Hospice care
is complicated as it involves many ethical decisions throughout the care from
the period of the enrollment of the patient to the end of their care. Ethical
issues when dealing with hospice patients include withholding or withdrawing
nutritional support, the right to refuse treatment, and do not resuscitate
(DNR) orders. It is hoped that the patient’s wishes are made known in advance,
such as a living will or an advance directive, or that a durable power of
attorney has been appointed. It is imperative that the nurse is aware of the
organization’s ethical policies and procedures so that any questions and
concerns may be addressed appropriately and correctly.
Quality Care at the End of Life
It is the patient’s
right to receive the quality care at the end of their life. Feedback from
family members, patient, and employees, through surveys and inspections can be
used as sources to develop and improve future hospice plans. It is extremely
important to have a quality assurance program in place to minimize errors.
Hospice Performance Reports
The National
Summary of Hospice Care published the following reports, which can be helpful
in determining hospice performance.
NHPCO Performance Measure Reports:
NHPCO members also have access to
national-level summary statistics for the following NHPCO performance
measurement tools:
1. Patient Outcomes and Measures (POM)
(www.nhpco.org/outcomemeasures)
•Pain relief within 48 hours of
admission (NQF 0209)
•Avoiding unwanted hospitalization
•Avoiding unwanted CPR
2. Family Evaluation of Bereavement
Services (FEBS)
(www.nhpco.org/febs)
3. Survey of Team Attitudes and
Relationships (STAR)
(www.nhpco.org/star)
Job satisfaction (hospice-specific)
•Salary ranges
•Provider-level results
Myths
About Hospice Care
Hospice care really means giving up all
efforts.
No,
hospice care aims to provide comfort with dignity to someone who has been told
that nothing else can be done. If the person has no chances of survival, there still
is a chance that their quality of life can be improved. Love ones can be
trained to handle stress and manage the changes going on. In a broader picture,
hospice care minimizes the negative impact of death on society.
Hospice care only helps cancer or AIDS patients.
No, hospice care is not limited to cancer or AIDS. It
includes many other life-limiting illnesses such as end-stage heart, lung, or
kidney disease, or Alzheimer’s and other dementia's. It is always recommended
for family members to consult a physician or hospice social worker to check if the
patient in question qualifies for the hospice care.
A hospice is a place where people go to die.
It is true for inpatient hospices, since
most of the hospice clients receive this service at private residences,
assisted living communities, hospitals and long-term-care facilities. Some
patients and family members prefer to stay home and some prefer to utilize
hospice services in an institutionalized setting.
Receiving hospice care means that the patient
is going to die shortly.
Hospice care does not accelerate the
process of death and it does not help to prolong life. It only improves the
quality of the patient’s remaining life. Many patients in hospice care get well
enough to go back to their normal lives. On the other hand, there are many
patients who have received hospice care several times in their lives. So, we
cannot say that hospice care always means that patient is going to die.
Hospice
care will not allow me to keep my physician
No, your physician can be involved in
your care. Hospice physicians are typically the medical directors, and since
they have legal responsibilities with the hospice, they must also be involved.
It is the
doctor’s responsibility to recommend hospice care.
It is better that family members or
love ones initiate discussion of hospice care because sometimes it upsetting
for families if their doctor initiates this discussion. The patient himself, or
family members, can consult hospice social workers to find out if the patient
in question meets the criteria for obtaining hospice care.
Patients cannot quit hospice program.
No, patients can quit the hospice
program that they are enrolled in if their condition improves enough for them
to go back to their everyday lives. If for whatever reason their health
deteriorates again, they can rejoin and receive the care that is necessary.
Patients can’t receive other treatments with
hospice care.
Patients can receive other treatments
if the care received improves the quality of life and does not prolong life.
A patient must have DNR to receive hospice care.
No
To be
eligible for hospice care, patients have to be in the final stages of dying.
Hospice patients and families receive
care for an unlimited amount of time, depending upon the course of the illness.
There is no fixed limit on the amount of time a patient may continue to receive
hospice services.
Reliable
care at the end of someone’s life is very expensive.
Medicare beneficiaries pay little or
nothing for hospice care. For those ineligible of Medicare, most insurance
plans, HMO’s, and managed care plans cover hospice care.
Families are not able to care for people with
terminal illnesses.
Family members are encouraged,
supported, and trained by hospice professionals to care for their loved ones.
Hospice staff is on call for the patient and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, to help family and friends care for their loved ones.
Hospice care is just for the elderly.
No, hospice care is for anyone facing a
terminal illness, regardless of age. Children, adults, and elderly patients all
can receive hospice care if they meet the criteria of obtaining hospice
care.
Hospice care ends after the patient’s death.
No, it does not always end after
patient’s death. Bereavement services and grief support are available to family
members for up to one year after the death of the patient. Many families face
emotional issues after the death of loved ones. Hospice care is available to
resolve those issues and minimize the stress. Some may say that hospice care
has healing effects on the emotions of the patient and of their loved ones.
Hospice care is only for people who can
accept death.
This is not necessarily true. The hospice
patient must be aware that the care that the hospice is providing them can lead
to recovery. While those affected by terminal illness struggle to come to terms
with death, hospices gently help them find their way at their own speed. Many
hospices welcome inquiries from families who are unsure about their needs and
preferences. It is always recommended to contact your physician and hospice
social worker to get advice. The hospice’s staff is readily available to
discuss all options and to facilitate open family decisions.
Hospice Care is
professional medical care with a focus on pain management and symptom relief
with respect and dignity. Hospice teams of professionals and volunteers also
address the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the patient and the whole
family. Hospice care is design to give relief to patient and love ones.
1.Hospice care really means give up all efforts.
No,
hospice care aims to provide comfort with dignity to someone who has been told
that nothing can be done. If person has no chances of survival still quality of
life can be improved. Love ones can be trained to handle stress and changes
going on. In a broader picture hospice care minimize the negative impact of
death on society.
2. Hospice care help only cancer or Aids patients
only.
No,
hospice care is not limited to cancer or Aids. It includes many other
life-limiting illnesses such as end-stage heart, lung or kidney disease, or
Alzheimer’s and other dementia's. It is always recommended for family members to
consult physician or Hospice social worker to check if patient qualify for the
hospice care.
3.Hospice is a place where people go to die.
It
is true for inpatient hospice, most of the hospice clients receive this service
at private residences, assisted living communities, hospitals and
long-term-care facilities. Some patients and family members prefer to stay home
and some prefer to utilize hospice service in institutional setting.
4.Receiving
hospice care means patient is going to die shortly.
Hospice
care does not accelerate the process of death and it does not help to prolong
the life. It only improves the quality of remaining life. Many patients in
hospice care get well and go back to their normal life. There many patients who
have received hospice care several times in their lives. So, we cannot say that
hospice care always means that patient is going to die.
5.Hospice care will not allow me to keep my
physician
No,
your physician can be involved in your care. Hospice physician (Medical
director has legal responsibilities so he must be involved)
6.It is doctor responsibility to recommend
hospice care.
It
is better that family members or love ones initiate discussion because
sometimes it upsetting for families if doctor initiate this discussion. Patient
himself, or family members can consult Hospice social worker to find if patient
meets the criteria for the hospice care.
7. Patient cannot quit hospice program.
If
patient condition improves or due to any reason patient can quit hospice care
and can rejoin when meet the eligibility.
8.Patient can’t receive other treatment with
hospice care.
Patient
can receive other treatment, if care improves the quality of life and does not
prolong life.
9. It
must for patient to have DNR to receive hospice care
No
10.To be eligible for hospice, I have to be in
the final stages of dying.
Hospice patients and families receive care for
an unlimited amount of time, depending upon the course of the illness. There is
no fixed limit on the amount of time a patient may continue to receive hospice
services.
11.Reliable care at the end of life is very
expensive.
Medicare
beneficiaries pay little or nothing for hospice. For those ineligible for
Medicare, most insurance plans, HMO’s, and managed care plans cover hospice
care.
12.Families are not able to care for people with
terminal illnesses.
Family
members are encouraged, supported, and trained by hospice professionals to care
for their loved ones. Hospice staff is on call to the patient and their
families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help family and friends care for
their loved ones.
13.Hospice is just for the elderly.
No,
Hospice is for anyone facing a terminal illness, regardless of age. Children,
Adults and elderly patients all can receive hospice care if they meet the
criteria of hospice care.
14.Hospice care ends after patient’s death.
No,
it does not always end after patient’s death. Bereavement services and grief
support are available to family members for up to one year after the death of a
patient. Many families face emotional issues after the death of love ones.
Hospice care is available to resolve those issues. We may say hospice care has
healing effects on emotions of patient and love ones.
15.Hospice Care is only for people who can
accept death.
It
is not necessary. Hospice patient must accept that now he does not want medical
treatment which can lead to the recovery. While those affected by terminal
illness struggle to come to terms with death, hospices gently help them find
their way at their own speed. Many hospices welcome inquiries from families who
are unsure about their needs and preferences. It is always recommended to
contact your physician and hospice social worker to get advice. Hospice staff
are readily available to discuss all options and to facilitate family
decisions.
Changing
face of Hospice Care in Dallas-Fort Worth area
Hospice service and palliative care demand have been
increasing due to increase in the number of elderly population in Dallas-Fort
Worth area. Local Hospice care in Dallas-Fort Worth area is being evolved to
high standards. Managing End of life care and End of life symptoms is always a
big challenge for the family members. Institutional care like inpatient
hospice, Hospice care in the Nursing facility, Hospice care in Assisted living
give relief to the family members but sometimes it is more depressing for the
patient. In- patient hospice, which is commonly called hospice house has the
negative image associated with it because it has all patients waiting for
dying. Hospice home care or Hospice care at patient’s home has been more
popular among all settings of Hospice and palliative care. Palliative Care
clinic, Centers of Hospice and Palliative Care Palliative care nursing are
various entities trying to improve the standards of Hospice and Palliative
care. Due to new standards and modern palliative care, guidelines the dying
process has become less painful and less stressful. Still, there are quite a
few people who ask the question What is the Hospice Care?
How we
know if this is a time to seek Hospice Help
Most of
the time family members realize that it is time to seek Hospice service but
they are afraid of hurting dying love one with an impression of losing hope.
This is not the right approach, Hospice care involves support of the qualified,
trained and professional team to handle all aspects of the patient care for
dying patient. They are also trained to help family members to handle this
situation in the best possible way. Hospice care is covered by Medicare and
Medicaid. The Patient needs to agree in writing to stop efforts to cure illness.
To start hospice care physician must confirm that life expectancy of the
patient is less than six months.
Hospice
patient has right to receive care with preference respect. One of the common
situation is a place of death. Some patients want to die at home and some
choose inpatient facility.
Many
patients want relatives and friends around when they are near to the death.
This helps them to release stress and gain the courage to face the death.
A
Comfortable environment is also an important preference of the hospice patient.
Family members, Caregivers and the objects in surrounding make an
environment. Patients feel more comfortable in the environment which they like.
Patients
also look for individualized experience as every on perceive death differently.
It is good if we find out how a patient thinks about death and what can make
death more satisfying and comfortable. Personalize care can include food,
dressing, activities, socialization and legacy.
