Although advancements like extending technologies and medical treatments are making remarkable strides in our lives today, situations could still happen wherein individuals wouldn’t or couldn’t seek the necessary treatment to try and cure their life limiting condition, disease, or illness. In cases like these, many individuals opt to ensure that their quality of life is as comfortable as possible for the time they have left. One way to ensure this goal is through hospice care.
What Exactly is Hospice Care?
Hospice care offers specialized medical care. Its main goal is to maintain the quality of life and provide comfort for patients facing a terminal condition or life limiting disease or illness. Generally speaking, its focus is the patient’s holistic or overall wellbeing.
It does so by attending to a patient’s physical condition, as well as their social, emotional, and religious or spiritual goals, explains a well-known hospice home services provider in Indiana.
Doctor participation – Your doctor would still continue providing medical care and advice, with help from a doctor from the hospice.
Nursing services – You would be assigned a nurse who would visit you each week to manage your case. You’d also have access to a nurse on-call 24/7.
Counseling – You and your loved ones might require emotional, and spiritual or pastoral support. Your loved ones might also need bereavement counseling once you pass.
Medical Social Services – A social worker would be assigned to you and could help with your social and emotional needs.
Home Healthcare Aide – Your assigned aide could help with your personal care needs.
Medications – These usually cover medications associated with your hospice diagnosis as well as medications for easing or controlling your pain and other symptoms.
Medical Equipment – These are equipment needed to make your home a more caring, comfortable, and safe environment. These could include an oxygen tank, wheelchair, hospital bed, as well as latex gloves, bandages, adult diapers, etc.
Laboratory and other Diagnostic Tests
Related Therapies – If needed, you could be assigned an occupational or physical therapist.
Respite Care – This special type or short-term, temporary help could aid in reducing or preventing stress or burnout for your primary caregiver.
Extra Services – Depending on your specific needs, the hospice might likewise offer other extra services.
Should You Opt for Hospice Care?
Hospice care is ideal for patients who are terminally ill with six months or less to live. Although diagnoses like these are estimates and are not set in stone, studies have shown that patients would benefit most from hospice care the sooner they receive hospice care services. In some cases, the most ideal candidates for hospice care are patients who have decided to seek treatment for providing comfort during their last days than treatment meant to cure their terminal condition, disease, or illness.
Hospice care aims to provide specific services to affirm for life, taking into account that death is a natural part of it. This way, you could spend the rest of your remaining time on earth as comfortably and fully as possible.
Gunther earned his dental license in 2014. He went to work as an associate dentist in his aunt’s clinic before opening his pediatric dental clinic in Boston. After noticing the significant increase in children with cavities, Gunther briefly ran his blog about dental health before joining the Nutrophia team. As a doctor, Gunther believes prevention is much better than the cure. He writes about oral hygiene and how people can prevent a painful trip to their local dentist simply by taking care of what they eat and how they brush their teeth.
