What is Hospice Care at Home?
In-home hospice care focuses on caring for patients’ needs in their chosen environment. Often, this is the patient’s home, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, a hospice team can provide care to a patient in the homes of family members, an assisted living facility or a nursing home.
Hospice Eligibility Conditions
Importance of Home Hospice Care
Having hospice care at home provides comfort and emotional support for patients that can’t be had in a hospital setting. Spending their last days in familiar surroundings can make patients feel more comfortable and emotionally secure. But an environment that feels like a home (familiar or not) is highly desired.
Connect with Three Oaks Hospice to see if Hospice Care at Home is a Chouce for You & Loved Ones
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Three Oaks Palliative Care
Phone: 877-585-7400
Fax: 877-585-7401
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The Emotional Significance of a Homelike Environment
A recent study showed that 70% of respondents would prefer to spend their final days at home. This preference was given over dying in a nursing home or hospital. Nursing homes and hospitals may feel colder and more sterile than a homelike environment. The rooms are often bare, filled with medical equipment and lacking the basic comforts of home. A person facing a terminal illness feels more comfortable surrounded by family in a warm and cozy room. Many believe this is a less frightening and more peaceful way to pass.
The Role of Comfort in End-of-Life Care
Another recent study found that patients receiving hospice care tended to experience significantly better end-of-life treatment than those who weren’t under the supervision of a hospice team. In addition, the same survey found that 66% of respondents stated that being comfortable was one of their most important end-of-life care factors.
Benefits of Hospice Care at Home
We know that patients with terminal illnesses benefit from hospice services. But it’s also essential to consider the benefits of hospice care for family caregivers. Caring for terminally ill patients is emotionally and physically draining. One of the most significant hospice benefits for caregivers is that they’re given some respite from caring for their loved one and processing the upcoming loss so their health doesn’t suffer.
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Three Oaks Palliative Care
Phone: 877-585-7400
Fax: 877-585-7401
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Promoting Dignity and Autonomy
During hospice care, the patient & family’s wishes are of the utmost importance. Patients control the type of care provided for as long as they can. Caregivers and family members can make the choices they feel will allow the most dignity while their loved one reaches the life expectancy of their terminal illness prognosis.
Enhancing Quality of Life With Personalized Care
Along with the autonomy of making choices, patients experience personalized care they won’t find in a hospital or nursing home setting. (The focus here should be on comfort, symptom, & pain management) .
Strengthening Family and Community Connections
Hospitals and nursing homes have set visitation hours that don’t always allow every family member to see their loved one as much as they’d like. But the hospice care team is much more flexible, and when the patient remains in their home, their loved ones can visit as often as they’d like — at the times most convenient for them.
Three Oaks Hospice Locations
Three Oaks Hospice has locations across the U.S., ensuring that caring, compassionate hospice and palliative care are available to patients where they live. Three Oak Hospice provides on-site care in the home or where the patient calls home, whether that’s in their residence, a family member’s, or in a medical facility.
Components of Hospice Care in a Homelike Setting
What sets a hospice program apart from other inpatient or in-home hospice care is the extensive services for the patient and family.
To learn more, please click on the tabs below:
CONTACT US
Three Oaks Palliative Care
Phone: 877-585-7400
Fax: 877-585-7401
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Medical Care and Symptom Management
Hospice care is directed and overseen by a physician. Hospice care facilities provide necessary medication supplies and durable medical equipment to enhance patient comfort and safety
Emotional Support and Counseling
At Three Oaks Hospice, we understand that care’s emotional and spiritual aspects are the most important at the end of life. A terminal diagnosis can cause emotional turmoil that can be challenging to face. That’s why our hospice program includes therapy related to the emotional challenges related to terminal illness and end-of-life concerns.
Spiritual Guidance
Supportive care can include spiritual guidance and support for those who desire it. Clergy members are part of the hospice care team and provide essential services like last rites or spiritual counseling. If you follow a particular faith or religious practice, be sure to mention this when setting up hospice care.
Caregiver Support, Respite Care and Bereavement Services
Our hospice team can provide family support by educating about the patient’s serious illness so everyone involved understands what to expect. The team can also offer guidance on how to care for specific symptoms and assist with daily activities or care. Bereavement services are offered to help family members during their loss, including grief counseling up to 13 months following the patient’s death.
Hospice can also provide respite care, which a Medicare-certified facility provides for up to five days at a time.
Transitioning From Traditional Care
Traditional health care is designed to treat, cure or manage illnesses and diseases. Most people think of it as “health care,” and it’s what every person’s primary care doctor mainly focuses on. The primary focus in traditional health care is the qualitative number of patient days.
On the other hand, hospice care is focused on the quality of months, weeks, or days left for patients who’ve been told they have 6 months or less to live. When someone has chosen hospice care, they’ve decided they no longer desire medical interventions and would prefer to spend the rest of their time with family and living in comfort.
To learn more, please click on the tabs below:
CONTACT US
Three Oaks Palliative Care
Phone: 877-585-7400
Fax: 877-585-7401
CONNECT WITH AN INTAKE COORDINATOR
The Decision-Making Process: When Is the Right Time?
The right time to transition from traditional care to hospice care is an individual decision. Before deciding, we suggest the patient speak with their primary care provider about the potential for further medical interventions, success chances and potential side effects. However, most experts agree that transitioning to hospice care earlier is better than too late. Ensuring hospice care starts as soon as possible allows the care team to fulfill the patient’s last wishes.
Preparing for the Transition: Practical Considerations
Preparing for the transition between traditional and hospice care can be emotional. However, there are several practical considerations. Most importantly, you’ll need to consider the patient’s potential needs moving forward.
- Are there specific religious or spiritual practices pertaining to death that must be followed?
- How much care assistance will you require from the hospice team?
- Are there additional resources available for end-of-life care you may want to take advantage of?
The Role of the Hospice Team During Transition
During the transition, your hospice team can help by discussing your needs and preferences in detail. They can also help educate and guide you during the transition.
Choosing a Homelike Hospice Care Provider
Choosing the right homelike hospice care provider is crucial because you want to give your loved one the best end-of-life care possible.
Key Questions to Ask When Considering Homelike Hospice Providers
When choosing an in-home hospice provider, consider the following questions Three Oaks gets asked during the hospice selection period:
- Is the agency certified? Yes, all of Three Oaks Hospice’s locations are certified.
- Does the agency accept insurance coverage (including Medicare, where applicable)? Yes, Three Oaks is able to accept most private insurances.
- Does the provider have a strong reputation in the community? We love serving our communities and have received over 500 reviews.
- Is the agency nationally accredited? Yes, Three Oaks Hospice is accredited with CHAP.
- How long has the hospice provider been in business? Three Oaks Hospice started on May 24th, 2019 with the acquisition of Total Hospice & Palliative Care and has grown to 20+ locations while providing end-of-life care to thousands of patients and families.
- Is someone available around-the-clock to take your phone calls? Yes, every location offers a 24/7 call service where you can speak with a hospice professional.
- How often will hospice home health aides come to assist with care? Depends on the patient’s need and their care plan.
- Are the staff members appropriately licensed and certified?
- Are all staff members required to pass a background screening? Yes, every Three Oaks Hospice employee has undergone a background check.
- How long will it take to begin hospice services after admission? Three Oaks Hospice is able to process same day admission and administer consent packets in under 1 hour.
- What will the family caregivers be expected to do? Caregivers are expected to work alongside the hospice care team and participate in their loved one’s care.
- Are there support services available to families? Three Oaks Hospice provides care to the patient and the caregiver/family. Family members are able to meet with social workers, volunteers, chaplains and bereavement coordinators during the duration of hospice care and even after.
- Does the hospice provider offer respite care? Yes, Three Oaks Hospice can partner with third-party facilities to deliver respite care.
If you need reliable hospice care, reach out to Three Oaks Hospice through our contact form today. Our compassionate, educated team members are ready to take your phone call to learn more about how we can help you.