Improving the quality of life for the patient

Hospice provides palliative services to individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less. It is important to note, the primary goal of hospice palliative care is to relieve or minimize pain and symptoms. In addition, palliative treatment includes providing the patient with other comfort measures such as providing spiritual, psychological, and familial support services. In essence, hospice palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for the patient—for as long as possible. After all, hospice palliative services were created in an effort help terminally ill patients die with dignity.

Palliative services offer a broad range of care

Hospice care operates from an interdisciplinary perspective. In essence, in an effort to provide quality palliative services, it utilizes the services of physicians, nurses, social workers, physical, speech, and/or occupational therapists, clergy, health care aides, and volunteers. Further, palliative treatment also utilizes the aid of friends, family, and volunteers for the benefit of the terminally ill patient. In essence, because hospice palliative care has witnessed a wide range of conditions in terminally ill patients, palliative services offered cover a broad range of care. Health care professionals in the field must be consistently responsive and sensitive to the ever-changing needs of the patients. Further, palliative treatment must include the resources that caregivers such as friends, family and volunteers have to offer.

We provide care anywhere you call home

The majority of hospice palliative treatment is provided in the home. The chief reason for this is because most people prefer to be in the comfort of their own homes. However, it is important to note, palliative treatment may also be provided in a hospice home or in a palliative care center. Thus, the terminally ill patient and/or family can choose which option best suits their needs.

Whether provided in the home, hospital, long-term care facility, or anywhere else, hospice is an empathetic manner of delivering palliative treatment and supportive services to terminally ill patients. To acquire more information regarding palliative services, please contact your physician.