Hospice

For those living with terminal illnesses, desperation, frustration, and hopelessness are all feelings that can set in over time. A hospice can provide a caring and nurturing environment, both physically and mentally, for these patients.

Hospices began developing in the early 1970's. By definition, a hospice is a health care facility that provides medical care for those suffering from terminal illnesses. They define terminally ill as those with less than six months to live. Some of these diseases include:
cardiac and respiratory disease
neurological disease

• AIDS
• liver disease
• Parkinson's
• Alzheimer's
• Dementia

Some believe the terminally ill are ready for hospices when the focus deviates from curing the disease to providing the most comfortable life possible. When this switch occurs, it is recommended one enter a hospice. A hospice has a team of many to aid in providing medical care and support services. Some of these team members include:

• Patients physician
• Medical director
• Registered nurses
• Home health aides
• Social workers
• Pastoral counselors
• Rehabilitation therapists
• Volunteers

The hospice program can either take place in the patient's home or in a health care facility, depending on the patient's preference, needs, and family's preference. Most Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance plans pay for these services. However if the patients do not have health insurance, most hospices will take them on as charitable cases.

The hospice service believes although a person is suffering from a terminal illness, this does not deem them unworthy of a comfortable and enjoyable life. Most hospices are able to treat patients with a combination of medications, support and counseling so the pain these patients feel is minimal. These places center around the belief that every person has the right to live out their life with respect, dignity and free of pain. With that, these hospices focus on the patients and their families aspiring to make the limited time they have left worthwhile and rewarding.



CareScout. 2006. 28 September 2006. www.carescout.com/resources/hospice.