National Hospice and Palliative Care Month: Superior Care and Superior Services Wherever You Call Home
During the month of November 2021, Ohio’s Hospice is observing National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. This article focuses on superior care and superior services wherever you call home.
Hospice care is designed to provide compassionate care to patients and families to deliver quality of life to end-of-life. The majority of hospice patients are cared for in their own homes or the home of a loved one. However, home can be broadly understood as wherever a patient calls home at the time, including nursing homes, assisted living centers, and hospitals. Hospice care can also be provided at facilities, like the inpatient care centers offered through the affiliates of Ohio’s Hospice.
Hospice Care at Home
Many people receive hospice care at home. In these cases, the interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, personal care specialists, and others will visit regularly, ensuring symptoms are under control. They provide medications and care, but the primary caregiver is usually a family member or friend who is responsible for around-the-clock supervision of the patient. Hospice will have an on-call nurse available to answer calls, make home visits, or send additional help any time you may need it between scheduled visits.
Hospice Care at Inpatient Care Centers
Many Ohio’s Hospice affiliates have inpatient care centers. These are designed to care for patients who don’t have caregivers at home or need around-the-clock physical care. Respite care — temporary care for when the primary caregiver is not available —
may be provided at inpatient care centers as well.
Hospice Care at Hospitals
Similar to inpatient care centers, hospital-based hospice care gives patients and families easy access to support services and allows for constant care for control of symptoms. Some hospitals have special hospice units, while other use a hospice team to visit with patients on any nursing unit. Patients often return to at-home hospice care when they are comfortable again and symptoms can be managed at home.
Hospice Care at Long-Term Care Facilities
For patients residing in skilled nursing facilities or assisted living centers, hospice care can be provided to their location. Ohio’s Hospice affiliates have arrangements with local long-term care facilities to provide care to patients who do not have someone to take care of them at home or need specially trained nursing staff.
No matter where hospice care is provided, superior care and superior services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your doctor, social worker, and care manager can help decide which program is best for you and your family.
For more information, contact your local Ohio’s Hospice affiliate.
