Quality, compassionate care for individuals facing life-limiting illnesses, hospice offers an array of supportive services. In most cases, Philadelphia patients receive hospice care at home – their own home or that of a loved one – but the location can also be a nursing home, hospital, long-term care facility or an inpatient hospice center.
For the vast majority of Pennsylvania hospice patients, the costs are covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit. An approved Medicare home health care agency provides an interdisciplinary team of professionals who make regular visits and are there when needed. However, what surprises many people about home hospice care is that family members are often the main caregivers.
The Medicare Hospice Benefit does allow for continuous home care, with around-the-clock support from members of the hospice care team. And for patients in need of acute symptom control, inpatient care at a medical or nursing facility is available. With that being said, routine hospice care – provided at a patient’s home — is far more common. Below, we explain how the interdisciplinary team and family caregivers work together to support a hospice patient.
The Hospice Care Team
Hospice care professionals are dedicated to helping terminally ill individuals and their families enjoy their remaining time together. The primary focus of the work they do is on the patient’s comfort and quality of life, and team members deliver care with professionalism, integrity and compassion.
Each member of the interdisciplinary hospice care team has specialized skills and expertise in caring for individuals with life-limiting illnesses. Together, they provide the support a patient needs, making it possible for them to remain at home. Hospice services are personalized, but the interdisciplinary team provided by an approved Philadelphia Medicare home health care agency generally includes:
Physicians
The hospice medical director and staff physicians, in conjunction with the patient’s primary care doctor, create a plan of care to manage pain and control distressing symptoms associated with their terminal illness.
Nurses
Skilled registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses assess patients and provide hands-on care. Hospice nurses also offer support to family caregivers, educating them on how to meet the needs of their loved one.
Therapists
Specialized therapists are available to assist patients with certain challenges and keep them comfortable at home. Those in need may receive care from specialists in physical, occupational, speech, music and pet therapy.
Dietitians
Terminally ill patients often find eating to be less important, and many face obstacles, such as frequent nausea and changes in taste. Hospice dietitians work to address these issues and improve patient nutrition.
Social Workers
Not all end-of-life concerns are medical-related. Social workers offer help with financial issues, insurance benefits, estate planning and other matters, connecting family members with the available community resources.
Hospice Aides
Home health aides assist Philadelphia hospice patients with their personal care needs, including bathing and dressing. They also spend time with patients and families, providing companionship and emotional support.
Chaplains
Spiritual care professionals provide hospice patients and their loved ones with guidance as they encounter difficult end-of-life decisions. Hospice chaplains may include clergy from the family’s church or any faith community.
Bereavement Counselors
With a life-limiting illness comes a great deal of grief, for both the individual and their loved ones. Bereavement specialists provide support, and for families of hospice patients, after-death grief counseling is available.
Trained Volunteers
Hospice volunteers play a number of roles, from providing conversation and companionship to assisting with end-of-life projects, helping with household tasks and giving caregivers a short break to run errands.
Family Caregivers in Hospice
Typically, members of the hospice care team make regular house calls for the purpose of assessing the patient and providing any care services required. Any approved Medicare home health care agency also has team members who are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to address urgent situations.
Family caregivers are tasked with providing day-to-day patient care – but not before they receive instructions from the hospice care team. Caring for a terminally ill individual can be quite challenging, and family members are given tips, advice and strategies to help them manage. Nonetheless, being thrust into the role of a caregiver can take a toll over time.
Some families in Philadelphia compensate for this by hiring additional help from outside agencies. Others call on their network of relatives and close friends, taking turns as the primary caregiver. In any case, practicing self-care is essential for anyone who is caring for a hospice patient. To that end, family caregivers may find it helpful to seek counseling or join a support group.
In addition, when a family caregiver needs to get away for a little while, respite care is available. The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers a short break, and Philadelphia patients can stay at an approved local facility. However, with respite care a minimal cost may be involved.
Do You Have Questions About Hospice Care?
For expert answers and information on hospice care at home in Philadelphia, turn to Suncrest. As an approved Medicare home health care agency, we’re here to meet your needs – and you can count on us to help with your loved one’s end-of-life journey. Contact us and schedule a hospice consultation today.
