Does a loved one in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have a terminal condition? Is their health rapidly getting worse? Are you feeling overwhelmed tending to their needs? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, hospice care at home may be the solution.
Hospice is a comprehensive program of care that helps the incurably ill have a dignified death at home, in the company of family and friends. Although services are fully covered by Medicare, the Oklahoma Medicaid program, military benefits and most private health insurance plans, many people who qualify don’t take advantage of the benefit.
Your loved one doesn’t need to be in that group. Read the following, and you’ll understand how hospice care at home works.
What is Hospice Care?
Essentially, hospice care is support for incurably ill individuals. The primary goals are to maintain comfort and improve quality of life, and an interdisciplinary team of trained professionals works together in providing care. Many hospice agencies, including Suncrest, have skilled staff available 24/7 to meet the needs of patients, families and caregivers.
In hospice, the approach to care is holistic, with the aim of treating the whole individual rather than focusing on their condition. Every patient has a personalized care plan, with services designed to address medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.
The purpose of hospice is to help the incurably ill live as comfortably as possible for as long as possible. To that end, for the vast majority, hospice care is provided at home – whether that’s a private dwelling, skilled nursing facility or a residential care center – as home is where people are the most comfortable. The patient’s goals for the end of life become the goals of the interdisciplinary team, and achieving those objectives is a top priority. With support for family caregivers and grieving loved ones, hospice care can be invaluable.
What Hospice Care Isn’t
As so many people have the wrong idea about hospice, it’s worthwhile to take a look at the myths surrounding this approach to care. After all, knowing more will allow you to help your loved one have a meaningful and fulfilling end-of-life experience.
Hospice isn’t about giving up on life. It’s about giving people what they need to make the final days, weeks and months of life comfortable. Arranging for services doesn’t hasten death — according to research through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), incurably ill individuals who choose hospice live for an average of 29 days longer than those who don’t.
Hospice isn’t a place. Services can be provided wherever a patient calls home – their own house, apartment or duplex, a family member’s home, an assisted living center or a nursing home. And for anyone currently staying at a Tulsa hospital, care can be provided at that location.
Hospice isn’t always a permanent choice. Sometimes, the care provided by the interdisciplinary team leads to a patient’s health improving. When that happens – or if the individual changes their mind – services can be discontinued. However, if a doctor recertifies their eligibility, the patient can return to hospice care.
When Should Hospice Care Be Considered?
Hospice care is for anyone who has a terminal condition and is ready to stop treatment to cure their illness. For services to begin, a patient must have a projected six months or less to live, as certified by a physician. But while care is provided during the final days, weeks and months, it can be extended as needed if the patient remains eligible.
When is the right time for hospice care? If you’re not sure when to bring up the topic with your loved one, look for the following signs:
- Their health is deteriorating rapidly.
- They have little interest in eating or drinking.
- They are spending more time sleeping.
- They have trouble with self-care tasks.
- Their behavior has dramatically changed.
In addition, if family caregivers are overwhelmed, it’s time for the hospice conversation. Support from a team of skilled professionals makes a major difference – and besides that, respite care is a covered benefit. When caregivers need a break, a patient can stay at a Tulsa facility for up to five days and five nights.
How Hospice Care at Home Works
If you discuss hospice care at home with your loved one and they agree it’s the right choice, what happens next?
The process starts with either a doctor referral or a direct call to a Tulsa hospice agency. Once contacted, the agency arranges an informational meeting to explain the available services and discuss the goals of care. At this time, a registered nurse assesses the patient’s needs for mediation, medical equipment and medical supplies. Using input from the individual, their doctor and their family, the nurse develops a personalized plan of care.
As time goes on, members of the interdisciplinary hospice team visit to provide care on a regular basis. When the patient nears their final days, hospice staff is there to provide comforting support and assist with the necessary arrangements. After the individual passes, the agency provides bereavement care and grief support resources to the family for at least 13 months.
Do you have questions about hospice care at home? For answers and information, or to schedule a consultation at your loved one’s home, contact Suncrest Hospice in Tulsa, Oklahoma, today.
