Hospice should not be a scary word, but it is. People hear the word hospice, and immediately think that death is knocking on the door and the end is near. It is scary to come face to face with death that everyone knows is unavoidable. Hospice Care is much more, and the old stereotypes of death and dying are different.
- Hospice and End of Life Care is a special concept of care made to provide comfort and support to patients and their loved ones (families & friends) when a life ending illness no long responds to traditional and/or nontraditional cure and/or treatments.
- Hospice Care staff and volunteers offer specialized knowledge and care that is to improve the quality of the patient’s last days by offering comfort and dignity.
- Hospice Care is provided by a team of caring and highly trained professionals and volunteers including physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, chaplains, and others.
- Hospice deals with the emotional, social, and spiritual issues when dealing with the disease and dying.
- Hospice works to manage the pain and discomfort of the patient.
- Hospice has a variety of bereavement and counseling services for families before and after the patient’s death.
- Hospice can be paid for privately, but can also be paid for by insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid. Some hospice services have no charge.
- Hospice & End of Life Care can take place in a patient’s home, nursing home, hospital, assisted living, family or friends home, or in an inpatient hospice home/facility.
- Visit www.hospicefoundation.org for more information.