When your loved one is terminally ill, they may opt to enter hospice care in Fremont, California. Although hospice care is generally thought of as end-of-life services including pain management and comfort care, it can mean more than this.
Medicare defines the four levels of hospice care, and in order for a hospice provider such as Suncrest Home Health and Hospice to accept Medicare as payment for services, they must provide all four levels. We discuss these levels and options in depth with prospective patients and their families who are considering hospice care. Below, we give you a brief overview so you know what to expect.
Routine Home Care: Routine home care is often what people think of when they think of hospice — professional caregivers providing care to terminally ill patients. This care can be provided at home, or in a facility.This level of care is referred to as “routine” because it can be provided by caregivers other than skilled nurses. While a hospice nurse manages the plan of care, they are not part of the day-to-day care of the patient because their symptoms are manageable at this stage. The focus is on keeping the patient comfortable.- Continuous Home Care: Continuous home care is provided by a registered nurse and is deemed appropriate when a patient’s symptoms are labeled “out of control,” which often means severe pain.This level of care is often short-term, provided either at home or in a facility, as the goal is to stabilize the patient’s condition by adjusting the medication and/or dosages. Once the patient’s condition is stabilized, the new medications and dosages may be administered by a certified nursing assistant, family member or other licensed caregiver.
- In-Patient Care: For more serious health concerns, a patient may be placed in in-patient care. During these times, the patient may be moved to a hospital or placed in another area of a hospice facility where they can get more intensive treatment.As with continuous home care, once the patient’s condition stabilizes, they may return to routine care.
- Respite Care: This type of care is provided for the benefit of family members. It can be difficult and draining to take care of a terminally ill patient at home for weeks or months without a break. With this service, Suncrest helps your family place the patient in a facility for up to five days.Families sometimes use this respite care to take a trip to visit friends or family members, catch up on neglected chores or just relax quietly at home.
Suncrest Home Health and Hospice provides all four levels of care to all our hospice patients. To learn more about hospice care at home or in a facility in Fremont, contact Suncrest today.
