Let’s Talk About What Matters: The Truths of Hospice Care
By Phillip W. Heath, MS, President and CEO, Samaritan
I’m pleased to connect with you in this new monthly column intended to help readers understand and talk about the many facets of life-enhancing care available for everyone navigating issues of serious illness and aging. In the months ahead, we’ll examine everything from how to understand and coordinate care options, to the importance of social connections, to making sure your loved ones understand what your future care wishes include.
This month let’s talk about the truths of hospice care. When it comes to serious illness, individuals and their families are faced with many questions and decisions. This is especially true when you or a loved one faces the end-stage of life – needing and deserving comfort.
Did you know hospice is available for individuals with a terminal diagnosis who might have six months or less to live? Unfortunately, many people wait until the final weeks or even days to discuss, consider, or choose hospice care – meaning they miss the full benefits a hospice care team can provide. Often, this is because most folks don’t understand the help hospice care provides to a patient and their loved ones.
To set the record straight, hospice isn’t “giving up.” It’s choosing what works best for each and every individual patient so they can live comfortably, with dignity, and according to their wishes. Services are provided to a hospice patient through specialized, end-of-life care in the familiar setting of your home.
A hospice care team from Samaritan provides expert and extraordinary compassion for you as a whole person, addressing your physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs.
* A nurse case manager gives assessments, examinations, basic medical care, and keeps family members informed. They develop a unique comprehensive care plan with you and your loved ones, and coordinate services with a physician, always advocating for you.
* A certified home health aide assists with personal care, such as bathing, shaving, dressing, and other activities of daily living.
* A social worker provides counseling and support, and helps patients and families locate additional resources as needed.
* A spiritual support counselor provides culturally sensitive support as requested, respecting all faiths.
* Grief counselors offer bereavement counseling and coordinate services for individuals and families who are coping with or anticipating the loss of a loved one.
* A specially trained and certified companion volunteer talks with you, watches your favorite shows with you, helps you make calls to loved ones, and more.
* Complementary therapies improve quality of life and include music therapy, massage therapy, pet therapy, and aromatherapy.
The hospice team concentrates on your unique goals of care by offering many services:
* Delivery of supplies, including hospital beds and medications, directly to your home.
* Pain and additional symptom management.
* Wound care.
* Medication refills.
* Schedules and care plans that work for you.
* 24/7 availability to answer questions, concerns.
* Connections with community resources.
* Expert guidance through the process of dying with dignity.
* Assistance with funeral planning.
* Bereavement support for family and loved ones.
Choosing hospice early helps you receive the most benefits and enjoy more moments of life. The team gets to know you, your challenges, and what you cherish. Hospice care can help avoid frequent unnecessary hospitalizations, unmanaged pain, and emotional distress.
Many people are often unsure when to contact a hospice care provider. Signs you or a loved one may benefit from hospice care include:
* Increasingly difficult-to-manage symptoms.
* Visiting emergency departments and/or being admitted to the hospital multiple times.
* Increasing trouble with walking, talking, swallowing, eating, and other daily activities.
* Depending on caregivers more often.
Receiving hospice care wherever you call home helps maintain your privacy, comfort, and quality of life. You use your own bathroom and sleep in your own bedroom. You sit at your own kitchen table or in your favorite chair for quality time, emotional conversations, and priceless bonding with family and friends.
Samaritan is privileged to help patients and their families live their best lives every day throughout Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties. We also provide hospice for people living in a family member’s home as well as assisted-living communities, nursing homes, inpatient hospitals, and acute care settings.
If you or a loved one thinks hospice care could be right for you, call Samaritan at (856) 596-1600 to speak with a care navigator 24/7. Visit samaritannj.org to learn more about hospice, palliative medicine, primary care, and other services offered at home and in the South Jersey community.
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