Hospice care is all about maximizing quality of life for individuals with terminal illnesses. Pain management is a primary focus, and Tulsa hospice agencies take a personalized approach to ensure the highest level of patient comfort.
However, many people have concerns about how pain is managed in hospice care. Some worry that their loved one will be too doped up to have a conversation. Others fear that hospice patients are provided with insufficient relief of pain. Fortunately, with a trusted Medicare-approved Tulsa hospice agency like Suncrest, neither of these scenarios is to be expected.
Hospice professionals understand how to find the balance between pain control and the ability to function. If you’re concerned about a loved one entering hospice care in Tulsa, Oklahoma, reading the following may ease your mind.
Assessing Pain in Hospice Patients
In the eyes of Tulsa hospice professionals, pain is whatever a patient claims it to be – given, of course, that they speak about the subject.
Based on the health and needs of the patient, a hospice nurse may stop by a few times per week or a few times per month. In any case, the nurse will assess their level of pain during each visit, asking questions like:
- On a scale of 0 to 10 – with 0 meaning you have no discomfort and 10 indicating the worst pain possible — how would you rate your pain today?
- Where exactly are you feeling pain? Is it sharp, dull, aching, burning or stinging, or would you describe it some other way?
- Does anything make you feel better? This might include applying ice or heat, lying down or massaging the area, for example.
- What seems to make the pain grow worse? Is there a particular time of day when it reaches a peak?
- Is your pain preventing you from getting enough sleep or keeping you from enjoying your normal daily activities?
Some hospice patients – such as those suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia – aren’t able to communicate their level of pain. And hospice agencies are well aware that many aging adults downplay their discomfort to avoid being seen as weak. However, hospice nurses are skilled at recognizing non-verbal signs of pain. On each visit, they look for indications of discomfort, including:
- A faster breathing rate than normal
- A rise in the patient’s blood pressure
- Rapid blinking or keeping the eyes closed
- Tightening muscles or holding a rigid posture
- Fidgeting, rocking or pacing during the visit
- Becoming angry or acting aggressively
- Turning away and resisting care
- Displaying confusion or becoming withdrawn
Family caregivers and loved ones may also notice signs of pain in a hospice patient, and nurses welcome their input. Armed with answers, observations and information, they’re able to work with the other members of the hospice care team in developing an effective treatment plan.
Pain Management in Hospice Care
In hospice, the overall plan of care is tailored to the patient – and the same is true of the pain management protocol. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and both the severity and type of pain are considered when developing a regimen. For Tulsa hospice patients, relief may come in the form of either or both of the following:
Pain Medication
Medication is an important tool in hospice care – and opioids like Morphine and Oxycodone are often the best options for alleviating severe pain. Sometimes, patients or their loved ones are concerned about the use of opioid medication, but hospice professionals frequently assess:
- The need to initiate, continue or discontinue opioid medication for pain control
- The selection of pain medication and the proper dosage for the patient
- The risks of continued use and whether a different approach would be beneficial
Alternative Therapies
Pain medication isn’t the only option for patient comfort in hospice care. A number of alternative therapies have been proven to be effective in reducing pain, either alone or in combination with medication – and for Tulsa hospice patients, these services may be included in the plan of care:
- Massage, music or animal therapy
- Heat and cold application
- Deep breathing and relaxation techniques
- Meditation and aromatherapy
Managing Emotional Pain in Hospice Care
Being near the end of life can result in anxiety and depression. For some hospice patients, medications like Valium or Ativan can be helpful. But pharmacological treatment isn’t the method hospice professionals employ in helping those who are coping with emotional concerns.
Social workers connect patients and families with community resources, while chaplains, grief counselors and bereavement specialists help to meet the mental and spiritual needs of everyone involved. Hospice volunteers are available, too – and sometimes, just having a chat or enjoying a simple activity with a friendly person can make a difference.
Whether a hospice patient is in physical pain, emotional anguish or both, the Suncrest team in Tulsa explores every option for providing relief. Quality of life matters during the final chapter, and we know that effective pain management goes a long way in helping terminally ill individuals to make the most of every moment.
If you live in or around Tulsa, Oklahoma, and have questions about pain management, in hospice care, we’d be happy to provide you with answers. Contact Suncrest today!
