Home Health Care

Once your loved one gets to the point where medical treatment is no longer effective, you move into palliative care mode. That's when Hospice takes over the daily routine of care. this article will inform you of just what Hospice covers.

Terminal patients come in many forms. Elderly patients are sometimes referred to Hospice at the end of their lives to help with the transition to death. Many of these patients have already been in some form of home health and are just moved to being cared for by Hospice. Other reasons for Hospice are terminal illness and injury. Many cancer patients are in Hospice care for the final stages of life.

Hospice care is a lifesaver for most families because they can't afford the care costs associated with long illness. Home health is expensive and hospital stays are even worse. Hospice provides medical equipment such as beds, walkers, wheel chairs, and ventilators. These costs alone can overwhelm a family under any circumstances. Add in the impending death of a loved one and it becomes unmanageable. Also, many times family members will take leaves of absence from work in the time that their spouse or parent is under Hospice care. With no work, the free medical equipment is a gift from the heavens. Medications and doctor visits are also free once a person qualifies for Hospice.

Hospice offers much more than just medical care. They have grief counselors and clergy on call for families of ill patients. Their goal is to counsel everyone involved to make the situation as painless as possible. Often you will get visits at home from your nurse and your counselor. The counselors speak with the entire family, together and individually. This is a great way to get everything out in the open with each other and express your fears.

Hospice has different stages of care. Patients progress through these stages at different speeds. Most Hospice centers use a color coded system for identifying teams. Others use numbers, like 1-4, to depict the level of care needed. In the beginning, lower stages require minimal care and visits. They set you up with your equipment and give you the information you will need. As you progress through the program you get more in depth care. Visits increase and so do phone calls. They take it upon themselves to keep a constant line of communication with you. Toward the end your home health provider may transfer some of their low level cases to another caregiver.