It’s an all-too-common situation. A family is at the bedside of a loved one who is seriously ill at the end of life and unable to voice their wishes. Each member of the family has a different idea about the care the patient would have wanted.
Far too many people wait until they are amid a health care crisis before thinking about what options are available.
Often, by waiting too long to learn about possible options, like hospice care, people end up spending difficult days in the hospital and opportunities to be with loved ones at home or in a familiar setting are lost.
When a family is coping with a serious illness and a cure is no longer possible, hospice provides the type of care most people say they want at the end of life: comfort and dignity. Considered to be the model for high-quality, compassionate care for people with a life-limiting illness, hospice care includes expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support for both the patient and family. Care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of professionals and trained volunteers. The wishes of the patient and family are always at the center of the care.
Most hospice care is provided in the home – where most Americans have said they would want to be at this time. Care is also provided in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospice centers.
Care is paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans and HMOs.
Hospice providers can provide information about care options and help to make choices that ensure you live as fully as possible at the end of life. They will make sure your loved ones receive support as well.
One of the best ways to make sure you and your loved ones benefit fully from hospice is to talk and learn about it before a crisis occurs.
For more information, contact Hospice of Central PA toll-free at 1-866-779-7374 or on our website through our secure contact form.