Hospice Care for the Dying
When a person is close to death and requires thorough medical attention, hospice care is a useful tool that can make a difficult situation much easier to deal with. Due to their nature, some illnesses do not require full time hospital care but instead create a need for specialized attention. This is especially true if the patient refuses extensive or invasive treatment options and has an illness that causes discomfort without the proper the medications or regular check-ups. Hospice care provides these needed things in the comfort and safety of the person's home or living environment.
Nurse Care
The nurse is the most significant part of hospice care. Evaluation and treatment of the patient occurs on a regular basis to ensure that there is no irritation or uncomfortable feelings. The nurse also works as an intermediary between the patient and loved ones, lightening the burden of care and making the upcoming passing easier to understand. Rather than wait to see a doctor, the nurse takes over during the hospice care stage when the patient's death is imminent and is always available to assist.
Supplemental Help
Once the patient enrolls in hospice, he or she will receive all types of supplemental care. A social worker will visit the home to make an assessment and to make sure that caregivers are treating the patient properly. Professionals will evaluate the patient to see if any additional services are required such as physical therapy. If the patient has difficulty eating which is often the case at the end stages of life, a nutritionist will stop by to create a plan. Most hospice organizations also employ an interfaith minister to counsel the patient and his or her family.
Required Items
Once signed up for hospice care, everything the sick person needs comes from the agency. Wheelchairs, walkers, commodes and other accessories that make the person feel cared for are available for use. A hospital bed can be brought into the individual's home to make the patient comfortable. This component of hospice care makes the experience easier for everyone involved since there is no need to worry about purchasing hard-to-find or expensive items.
Prescriptions
Hospice care for the dying also includes all necessary prescriptions. Medications for a person close to death often vary from week to week since symptoms can worsen or change overnight. Hospice checks the patient to see if new medications or an adjustment to the existing ones needs to occur. The hospice agency has their own pharmacy that provides the prescriptions, typically in two-week intervals. Hospice also gives the patient's family a medical package full of emergency medications designed to make the final moments of the person's life as serene as possible.
Assistants
In addition to the nurses and therapists, hospice also supplies assistants and volunteers. These additional people help to care for the patient by spending time at the home so that the family and regular caregivers can get a break. The assistants take care of maintenance responsibilities such as bathing, feeding and cleaning the patient's area. Volunteers visit with the patient, read to him or her and provide relief for the families. Most hospice agencies typically offer at least four hours per day of this type of care.
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