Hospice Care

HOSPICE HISTORY AND THEORY.

The word "Hospice" was initially used to convey a warm or friendly feeling between a guest and a host. The meaning of the word morphed over time and became attached to a place where this feeling could be experienced. Hospices offer an environment where compassionate care is combined with the strong principles of curative clinical science.

Wikipedia has some excellent information on the history of Hospice care:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospice

Wikipedia says "Hospice care is a type and philosophy of care that focuses on the palliative care of a terminally ill or seriously ill patient's pain and symptoms, and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs. Within the United States the term is largely defined by the practices of the Medicare system and other health insurance providers, which make hospice care available, either in an inpatient facility or at the patient's home, to patients with a terminal prognosis who are medically certified to have less than six months to live."

CHALLENGES WITH HOSPICE CARE

At Coastal Care Homes, we believe that many seniors fear being alone and abandoned by their family and friends more than they fear death or pain. On the other side of the coin, we often find that family and friends who are financially or physically unable to provide the needed care feel guilty about not being able to help. Coastal Care Homes believes that these feelings create the greatest single source of pain when a loved one is deteriorating. While hospice care does offer counseling to patients and their family members, Coastal Care Homes believes that moving a resident from a care home where they are happy to a hospice promotes a resident's feeling of abandonment and reduces continuity of care. Being forced to change care teams greatly reduces the compassion and comfort that could be achieved if the patient was able to maintain continuity with their doctor, care team and family.

HOW TO USE THE HOSPICE BENEFIT

Coastal Care Homes believes the best Hospice Care is provided by a facility whose staff has the ability to provide all levels of care. Any changes in personnel or management can greatly impact residents in a Hospice, who perhaps require the most compassionate care of any person who requires assistance. When choosing a hospice, or any other senior care service in Lincoln City or on the Oregon Coast, we cannot stress how important it is to meet the staff who will care for you or your family member. The staff should also have a broad level of skills so they can provide all the care you need as you age.

When choosing any Assisted Living, Elder Care, Senior Living, or Home Care team you need to make sure that the facility is able to care for all levels of people. Be sure to check the pricing for each level of care so you know what to expect as your care needs increase.

When considering facilities that offer Hospice care, you should find the Best Senior Care setting possible and then add on that extra guidance. If at all possible, have your current doctor visit the facility immediately before moving. A meeting between your current doctor and the medical personnel at the Hospice facility will allow for greater continuity of care.