Terminal illness has several challenges associated with it.
Emotional stress, Financial burden of loss of income and treatment. Most of the
time hospice care is covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Other options may
include commercial insurance, Out of pocket payment and Department of Veteran
affairs.
How to choose a Hospice service for your loved ones
To select Hospice service you must consider the following points:
Is hospice program is
accredited or certified? This helps to determine the quality and standards
of care.
Do they have Medical
director who is specialized in palliative care? This makes care reliable
as these physicians are trained to provide hospice care under latest
guidelines.
Do they have pharmacist
in their team to makes sure that medications are managed properly? Having
dedicated pharmacist helps to keep the high quality of medication
management.
How they manage after
hours care? Some Hospice companies do not provide regular care after
business hours. So it is better to pick a company which has option of
after hours care available whenever it is needed.
Do they offer family
support program? Many hospice provide respite care for the family members
and caregivers. It always recommended to choose a company which has
respite care option available for the clients.
Do they offer spiritual
care? Many hospice companies have Chaplin available for spiritual needs.
Do they allow smooth
transfer of service to another hospice company in case it is needed? Some
times transfer of care is needed. Always find out if they facilitate
transfer of care in case it is needed.
How they will cover the
cost of hospice care? Discuss all options of payment to make sure that it
does not case additional burden on family.
Do they have bereavement
services available? It is very important for many families after patient
expires. This service can help family recover from the trauma of the
loss of a family member.
What services will be
included and supplies will be included? It is recommended
To discuss the details
of services and supplies to make sure that you get maximum benefit for
your loved one.
Hospice care is available
for patients that are terminally ill and do not have more than six months to
live. The best way to accommodate declining health is transitioning to
hospice care. Benefits of hospice care consist of following a designated health
care program tailored for you by your healthcare team, staying at home during
two of the four levels of hospice care, and concentrating on quality of life. A
great way to live beyond the turbulence of health with comfort is by relying on
hospice care. The flexibility of hospice care
serves patients 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Hospice care
representatives work very reliably with patients to satisfy the requirements of
their care plan. Staying at home during the first two levels of hospice care
allows the patient to have access to home health aide assistance and nursing.
After routine home care, patients will have the opportunity for continuous home
care in case of intensive medical conditions. Hospice care has a professional
variety of staff such as doctors, nurses, home health aides, social workers,
chaplains, and volunteers. With the cooperation of accredited organizations
like the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, hospice programs
assure quality care and service to their patients.
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.
Does
palliative care is adequate to minimize the pain of the patient?
Does
Hospice care diagnose and treat all conditions which help patients to
improve the quality of end of life care?
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.
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.
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.
Emotional Stress
Crisis of Distribution
of assets
Question about
Preferences for burial or disposal of dead body
Crisis of Liabilities
Crisis of Unresolved
conflicts
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.
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.
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.
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.
