Patients facing a terminal illness often consider hospice care to help maintain the best possible quality of life during their final days, weeks or months. Hospice philosophy focuses on keeping patients comfortable and providing compassionate care during the end of life. Entering hospice doesn’t hasten death. Instead, it involves an acceptance of the terminal diagnosis and an attempt to face the end of life with dignity.
The patient’s wishes are a primary concern during hospice care. For some, the ability to manage symptoms at home and reduce hospital visits may be a priority. Others may prioritize reducing the burden on family caregivers or remaining in a family home. The goal of Three Oaks Hospice is to always accommodate the wishes of the patient and family.
Hospice care is available for individuals with a variety of terminal conditions, including but not limited to: cancer, heart disease, pulmonary disease, neurological disorders, renal disease, dementia, and HIV/AIDS. The benefit of coming on hospice once eligible is that each patient receives a customized care plan tailored to their diagnosis, symptoms and personal goals. Our team of hospice professionals, will work alongside the patient’s family and physician to ensure the highest standard of care is met throughout the end-of-life journey.
Hospice Eligibility Conditions
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a type of end-of-life care intended for individuals diagnosed with a chronic disease who have an expected lifespan of 6 months or less. Patients entering hospice care have halted all treatment intended to cure the illness, such as radiation treatment for cancer patients or organ transplants. They may still be treated for symptoms such as pain and nausea, and many patients continue to take medication designed to relieve symptoms of their disease.
At Three Oaks Hospice, we prioritize the unique needs and wishes of each patient and their family.
- Symptom Management at Home: For those who prefer to remain in a familiar setting, we offer care designed to reduce hospital visits and manage symptoms at home.
- Supporting Family Caregivers: We strive to ease the burden on family caregivers by providing guidance, resources and compassionate care.
- Respecting Personal Choices: In addition to coordinating a plan of care with the patient, family and physician, our team will adhere to all advance directive requests and even assist with the creation of an advance directive if needed.
In addition to nurses, therapists and social workers, hospice team members may include trained volunteers who assist with household tasks or provide companionship. Spiritual support may be provided by a clergy member on the hospice care team.
Why Choose Three Oaks Hospice?
Three Oaks Hospice is dedicated to providing compassionate and professional hospice care. By focusing on the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of our patients and their families, we help create meaningful moments during the most difficult times.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you and your loved one.
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Three Oaks Palliative Care
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Medical Support
Hospice providers don’t provide medical care directly, but they may assist with obtaining and setting up medical equipment for the patient. Hospice care organizations also stock medical supplies, such as bed pads and medical gloves, so patients and families don’t need to acquire these items separately.
Emotional and Spiritual Support
Advanced illness often comes with emotional and mental turmoil. Because hospice care focuses on the whole individual, it also includes therapy related to emotional issues surrounding a terminal diagnosis and end-of-life concerns. Supportive care may also include spiritual support provided by a clergy member on staff.
Caregiver Education
The hospice team can help family caregivers learn more about their loved one’s illness and provide advice and education related to care for specific disease symptoms.
Assistance With Daily Activities
Patients with a serious illness often have trouble with activities such as personal grooming and household tasks. One goal of hospice is to assist with day-to-day care, so hospice staff may help patients complete activities such as cooking, cleaning, using the restroom, bathing and home dental care.
Respite Care
During respite care, the hospice team temporarily takes over the duties of a primary caregiver to give that family member a short break.
Temporary Inpatient Hospice Care
Hospice staff may provide services during a temporary hospital stay.
Bereavement Services
A terminal diagnosis often brings up strong emotions in patients and family members. Specific services aimed at easing the loss, including grief counseling, are available to the patient’s family for up to 13 months after the patient’s death.
How Long Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is designed to support individuals and families during the final stages of life. The duration of hospice care varies based on the patient’s condition. While hospice care typically lasts for weeks or months, some individuals live beyond their anticipated life span and continue receiving care with Three Oaks Hospice until the end of life. Our team will continue to make routine visits based on the plan of care where the patient lives, which may be a family home, an assisted living facility or a nursing home.
The decision to begin hospice care can be complicated, particularly if the terminally ill individual is unsure whether to cease medical treatment. It’s usually a good idea to discuss hospice decisions with the patient’s caregiver and medical team shortly after a diagnosis of a serious illness. Discussing the options ahead of time ensures everyone is prepared when the time comes to move into a hospice.
For patients with a serious illness that doesn’t qualify as terminal, palliative care is another option. Palliative care provides many of the same benefits and services as hospice care, but it’s intended for patients who have a longer life expectancy and opt to continue medical care aimed at directly treating the disease. Some private insurance companies provide coverage for both hospice and palliative care.
How Do You Qualify for Hospice Care?
Patients are usually referred to hospice or palliative care by a primary doctor. Family members may want to initiate a discussion about hospice options before a physician brings up the topic.
Qualifications for hospice care include:
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A terminal diagnosis with an expected life span of six months or less.
- A decision to cease curative treatment and focus on comfort care.
- Symptoms of disease progression, such as:
- Nonresponse to curative treatments.
- Significant weight loss or frequent infections.
- Repeated hospitalizations.
- Increased clinical markers indicating advanced disease.
There may also be disease-specific qualifications for hospice care. Individuals with advanced cancer, heart disease or COPD may experience functional decline that indicates a failure of treatment. Symptoms such as nonresponse to treatment, significant weight loss, frequent infections, repeated hospitalizations or an increase in clinical markers related to disease progression may indicate a need for hospice or palliative care.
What to Expect After Contacting Three Oaks Hospice
After a referral, the hospice care team meets with the patient and family caregivers to assess the patient’s needs. A social worker is assigned to manage the patient’s case. Care is coordinated with the patient’s regular healthcare professionals. Hospice care is provided at the patient’s home, so no travel is required to access services.
Once Three Oaks has been contacted or a physician referral has been made, our care team works closely with the patient and their family to develop a personalized care plan. Key steps include:
- Initial Assessment: A hospice care team evaluates the patient’s needs and hospice eligibility.
- Admission in One Hour or Less: Once contacted, in most cases our team can admit a patient within one hour or schedule an admission days or weeks in advance.
- Coordinated Care: Hospice services are provided in coordination with the patient’s regular healthcare providers.
- At-Home Care: Three Oaks provides patient care in-home or in patient facilities such as assisted living, memory care centers or independent living residences.
Medicaid, Medicare and private health insurance often provide full coverage for hospice services.
If you or a loved one is in need of hospice care, contact us for more information about local hospice options.