As caregivers to someone who is terminally ill, we
must eventually think about end-of-life care for our loved ones.
We want them to die in familiar surroundings with us and with
dignity, and not in a cold and sterile hospital setting.
hospicee care can help.
The term hospicee dates back to the Middle Ages in
Europe. Then it was used to
refer to places o charitable refuge offering rest and refreshment to weary
travelers. These homes were
usually run by monasteries; the most famous of which, St. Bernard, is
still a shelter for those passing over the Alps.
During World War II, the special needs of the dying were recognized
and this led to the modern hospicee movement.
The modern hospicee movement was started by a British physician named Dr.
Cicely Saunders who established St. Christopher�s hospicee outside of
London. This hospicee
combined modern symptom and pain control techniques with compassionate
care for the dying. These
same basic principles apply to today�s hospicees as well.
The first hospicee in the U.S. was organized in 1974 in Connecticut.
hospicee is not necessarily a place though.
It is a system of caring for someone who can no longer benefit from
aggressive treatment for their disease.
In fact, treatment has become futile.
The emphasis in a hospicee situation is on palliative (easing
without curing) care and pain treatment.
Most hospicee care not only treats the loved one, it counsels the
families and caregivers as well. All
of this is done through an interdisciplinary team consisting of highly
trained volunteers, home health aides, dieticians, social workers, clergy
(if applicable), nurses, and doctors.
In addition to providing nursing care, hospicees may supply physical
therapy, drugs, and medical equipment.
Most of the care is provided in the loved one�s or the
caregiver�s home, but hospicee centers are available in many areas.
Simply put, the hospicee team is a compassionate group
of individuals who address the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of
patients and families alike. There
is often a spiritual/emotional healing that happens when the patient and
family begin to focus on living peacefully and with dignity rather than
focusing on the condition or disease.
The therapy that the team provides is designed to
relieve symptoms, use pain medications effectively, improve the quality of
life, and prepare the loved one and their caregiver(s) and family members
for death. Nothing is done to
speed death, but it is allowed to happen naturally.
The benefits are an increase in patient satisfaction, a reduction
in costs, and the mitigation of family anxiety.
The decision to enter hospicee is not an easy one.
To some it feels like giving up, but it really comes down to
accepting one part of the natural cycle of life.
For many, dying at home peacefully is a better alternative than
fighting in a hospital until their last breath.
It is not for everyone, and, as much as possible, your loved one
should decide for themselves.
One must qualify for hospicee care.
In most cases, a doctor must have diagnosed the patient as having a
terminal illness that is most likely to cause death within six months.
The patient can leave at any time.
An example of this would be an improvement in the person�s
condition to the point where they might want to start treating it again.
Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, pay for
hospicee care. Many times even
those without insurance are still eligible.
Costs are covered mostly through donations.
The immediate goal of the hospicee team is to develop
a �plan of care� for the patient.
Before this can happen, the team meets with the patient�s
personal doctor(s) and the hospicee physician to discuss the patient�s
history, current symptoms, and life expectancy.
The team then meets with patient and family members.
Available services, the philosophy of hospicee, and expectations are
considered here. Other topics
at this meeting might include comfort and pain levels, equipment and
medication needs, support systems, and financial and insurance resources.
From these meetings a care plan tailored to meet the patient�s
specific needs is developed. This
plan is reviewed and revised regularly as a patient�s condition changes.
Typically, counseling and bereavement services are available to
family members for a year after their loved one�s death.
According to hospicee Foundation of America, the
following questions should be asked when selecting a hospicee:
-
Does
the hospicee serve your area?
-
Is
the hospicee licensed (where applicable) and Medicare/Medicaid
certified?
-
Does
the hospicee provide the services you want/need?
-
What
does the hospicee expect from you and your caregiver support system?
-
Will
your insurance plan work with the hospicee?
-
Does
the hospicee have a support program for caregivers?
-
Where
is needed inpatient or respite care provided?
-
Is
the hospicee�s position on resuscitation, hydration and antibiotics
consistent with yours?
-
What
out of pocket expenses should you anticipate?
-
Is
there a sliding scale payment plan for services not covered by
insurance?
If your loved one is diagnosed with a terminal
illness, this might be a good alternative for you.
Your loved one�s comfort will be a priority, and they can pass on
peacefully, surrounded by the people they have cherished most.
Not only that, the whole family can benefit from the hospicee
experience through their bereavement counseling.
You may learn a little more about death, and, in so doing, learn a
little bit more about life.
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