As seniors near the end of their lives, they may require specialized care and help to ensure that they’re as comfortable and safe as they can be. One of the options available is hospice elder care. Sometimes families seek out this type of care later than they might have if they were more informed about the basics of hospice elder care and how it can help their family members to have the best possible quality of life as they near the end stages of their lives.
What is Hospice Elder Care?
Hospice elder care is a specialized form of medical care that provides support and comfort to individuals with life-limiting illnesses. The goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family by providing comprehensive care that addresses needs of the patient on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. Hospice elder care providers include a team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide the best possible care for the patient. This team typically includes doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors, and volunteers who provide emotional and practical support to the patient and their family.
Services Provided by Hospice Care
Hospice elder care provides a wide range of services to support the patient and their family. These services can include:
- Pain and symptom management: Caregivers work to improve the patient’s comfort and quality of life.
- Emotional and spiritual support: They offer emotional support and companionship while helping with spiritual support needs.
- Assistance with daily activities: Hospice providers help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating, to ensure the patient’s comfort and well-being.
- Caregiver education and support: Caregivers offer education and support to the patient’s family members, helping them to manage the patient’s care and cope with the emotional challenges of caring for a loved one with a life-limiting illness.
- Bereavement support: Hospice also offers bereavement support to the patient’s family before and after the patient has passed away, helping them to cope with their loss and move forward in a healthy way.
Common Misconceptions About Hospice
There are many misconceptions about hospice elder care that can prevent families from seeking this type of care for their loved ones. Some common beliefs include the idea that hospice care is only for people who are actively dying, that it is expensive, and that it means giving up on treatment. In reality, hospice can be provided at any stage of a life-limiting illness and is often covered by insurance. Hospice elder care is not about giving up on treatment, but rather about providing compassionate care and support to the patient and their family.
When Is Hospice Recommended
Most doctors recommend that their patients consider hospice elder care when they get to the point where it’s estimated that they have six months or less remaining to live. Hospice can extend that time by a little bit, usually because people are no longer going through curative treatments. These timeframes aren’t exact, of course, and hospice is about making that remaining time as comfortable as possible.
Hospice elder care is an important option for those facing serious illness or needing end-of-life care. By understanding what hospice is, families can make informed decisions about the care of their loved ones.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED-ONE IS CONSIDERING HOSPICE ELDER CARE IN NORTH TEXAS INCLUDING COPPELL, TX PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT ARDENT HOSPICE TODAY. 469-293-1515
My name is Jimmie Stapleton. I am the founder and CEO of Arcy Healthcare. Arcy Healthcare includes Arcy Hospice, Arcy Supportive Care, MaximaCare Home Health and Arcy at Home.
Arcy Hospice was opened in 2007 to provide care and support for individuals and families facing a life limiting illness. It was established after my wife Ellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had completed her chemo and radiation therapies. At that time, things were looking positive, and we wanted to do something for our community that had been so supportive of our family during her treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer returned a few years later, and she subsequently passed away under our care in 2010.
In the years that followed, I began to see the need to provide the same level of excellent care to patients across the continuum of care. Therefore, we have added a home health division (MaximaCare Home Health), a palliative care division (Arcy Supportive Care), and a home care division, (Arcy at Home). With the addition of these divisions, we can meet most of the post-acute care needs for you and your family in your home.
I started Arcy Hospice with my wife as my motivation to provide exceptional care and support in the patient’s home, where they are surrounded by family and where they feel most comfortable. I’m proud to say that our staff provides some of the best in home care in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
Please let us know if we can enrich the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Stapleton – Founder and CEO
Arcy Healthcare
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