|
Hospice Care Offers Comfort Near
the End of Life
When people are facing a serious illness,
they often reach a stage when their body no longer responds to
curative medical treatments. At that point, their focus may
shift from fighting the disease to making the most of the time that
remains.
Hospice of the Prairie, Inc. offers the
following facts about hospice - a model of care that provides comfort
and support to patients and their families:
-
Hospice neither prolongs life nor
hastens death.
Rather, it addresses patients' symptoms with a special emphasis on
controlling pain and discomfort.
-
Patients can receive care in a number of
settings, including
hospitals, nursing homes or a residence. Services are often
covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance, but it's
important to ask in advance.
-
An interdisciplinary team supports
patients and their families.
This team consists of physicians, nurses, aides, social
workers, chaplains, counselors, therapists and volunteers.
-
The team works closely with patients
and their families to develop a personalized care plan.
Family members may be trained to help with feeding, bathing,
turning, administering medications and monitoring changes in
condition.
-
Members of the team are specially
trained to foster communication and deal with fear and loneliness.
Families continue to receive support and counseling after their
loved one has passed away.
-
Although the majority of patients are
older, hospice can serve any age group. Many hospices
offer clinical staff with expertise in caring for children.
For information on hospice care, call
Hospice of the Prairie at 620-227-7209.
return to "Articles" page
|
