Hospice provides something more for patients when a cure is not an option. It is a medical care model focused on comfort. Hospice care aims to manage the patient’s symptoms while supporting their quality of life. It provides support for family caregivers, too. Understanding what hospice is — and isn’t — can help patients and…
Everyone’s life is different. Death is an individual experience, too. For some people, the dying process may last weeks. For others, it may last a few days or hours. A dying person’s experience may be influenced by their illness or medications, but certain signs and symptoms are common. Patients who begin hospice care earlier in…
Making plans for the end of a loved one’s life can feel uncomfortable, especially in the wake of a terminal diagnosis. But some practical planning is beneficial, and “putting one’s affairs in order” can be reassuring to the patient and their family. Practical matters End-of-life planning is most effective when the patient is engaged in…
When a patient receiving hospice care dies at home, family and caregivers should not call 911 or emergency services. If you believe your loved one has died, call your hospice provider at the 24-hour call center number. A team member will come to confirm the death and assist with final arrangements. Final arrangements The hospice…
Volunteers are an integral part of the hospice team, filling roles that range from direct contact with patients to providing clerical and fundraising support for the organization. Hospices that participate with Medicare are required to use volunteers alongside their paid clinical and administrative staff.
Options are available for patients and families who are dissatisfied with the quality of their hospice care. Please note that HFA does not have the authority to monitor or regulate hospice providers and is unable to assist with individual hospice care complaints.
Palliative care defined In broad terms, palliative care is any treatment or intervention intended to control pain or other distressing symptoms. In the context of hospice, palliative care focuses on quality of life rather than curing disease. All hospice care is palliative in that the focus is on controlling distressing symptoms, but not all palliative…
The spiritual aspect of the journey through end of life is an important part of palliative care offered through hospice, as discussed on HFAs television special “Hospice – Something More.”
Karen Jones, a young wife, mom and marathon runner living with advanced cancer shared her hospice experience on HFA’s television special, “Hospice – Something More.”
This educational program explores medical, legal, ethical issues, and communication barriers that surround ANH.
Do all patients benefit from artificial nutrition and hydration?
Looking for a hospice provider? Here are suggestions for things to consider.
Whether you’re a patient, family member, or a friend trying to determine whether hospice is the right choice, HFA is here. We provide guidance before, during, and after the important decisions are made.
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