What is Hospice?

Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s pain and symptoms and attending to the emotional and spiritual needs of the patient at the end of their life. Hospice care may be right for you or your loved one when living with a life-limiting illness that has a six-month life expectancy (if the disease runs its normal course).

Who is Hospice Care in Orange County for?

There are a lot of benefits that come with hospice care. The end of a patient’s life can be an extremely difficult and trying time. Hospice care eases the burden on the patient and makes the overall experience that much easier. With hospice care, patients are able to die with dignity, surrounded by those that they love.

Hospice care is also very beneficial in that it allows the loved ones of the patient to relax and take some time off from caregiving. Caregiving for a terminally ill patient can be very taxing and difficult—especially for those that aren’t trained to be caregivers. Professional hospice care caregivers are able to provide a high level of care and alleviate some of the pressure on the primary caregiver.

Everyone has their own journey, and the end of their life looks different. At Comfort and Peace Hospice, we understand this. That is why we put a plan in place for each of our patients to meet their individual needs. Our team is trained specifically for end-of-life support, and each member has a lot of experience to draw from. It is our goal at Comfort and Peace Hospice to provide every patient we work with the best emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual support possible.

Who is Hospice Care for?

Hospice care is for patients that are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Many people think of cancer when they think of hospice care, but it is actually a useful service for people with any form of terminal illness. The hospice care providers at Comfort and Peace are trained to provide care for patients with a variety of life-limiting illnesses. We understand the needs of our patients, and we provide the best support possible in their final days.

In order to be a candidate for hospice care, you must be diagnosed with a terminal prognosis by two physicians. This prognosis essentially means if the illness continues, you are expected to pass away within around 6 months or less. With that said, hospice care may still be available for patients that live beyond this 6 month period.

A factor that needs to be taken into account is insurance coverage or Medicare. If it is decided that hospice care is not covered, out-of-pocket payments will need to be considered.

Some common illnesses that patients suffer from that lead to the need for hospice care include:

  • Cancer
  • Heart disease
  • Dementia
  • Pulmonary disease
  • Liver disease
  • Renal disease
  • Stroke
  • and others

If your loved one or you are reaching the end and feel like hospice is a good option, contact a physician for an evaluation. They’ll be able to recommend hospice care. Actually, physicians are generally the ones to initially suggest hospice care for terminally ill patients that would benefit from it. If you have further questions about who is a candidate for hospice care in Orange County, contact us. We’d be happy to discuss the topic further with you.

What to Expect

There are four levels of hospice care. The level of care is highly determined by the patients’ conditions. The physician and hospice nurse authorize the changes in level of care.

There’s no out of pocket expense and all medications & equipment related to the terminal diagnosis are covered.

The four levels of hospice care are:

Routine Home Care

Routine home care is provided by compassionate hospice professionals in the patient’s place of residence. The care is delivered by specially trained medical staff, spiritual and social work professionals and volunteers. Assistance with pain management, skilled nursing care and symptom management are provided. The interdisciplinary hospice team coordinates care with the patient and family.

Most patients, with the assistance of the hospice team, are able to remain in their place of residence, whether it is a private home, Assisted Livings or nursing home for the duration of their illness. If the patient lives in an Assisted Living or Nursing Home, the care delivered is in addition to the normal nursing and caregiving care provided by the facility with no out of pocket cost to the patient and family. The care is coordinated by our interdisciplinary hospice team in collaboration with the facility staff, the patient and the family.

We will collaborate with your primary caregivers to ensure the patient and family are comfortable and at peace.

Continuous Care

If the patient’s symptoms are out of control, continuous care will be initiated. Continuous care is provided by our hospice team for several hours a day, up to 24 hours a day, until the crisis is resolved. The hospice nurse will assist in determining when continuous care is needed.

Continuous Care is initiated when symptoms such as pain, anxiety, and respiratory distress are out of control and bedside support is necessary to control these symptoms.

  • We will be by your side irrespective of how long it takes to keep you or your loved one comfortable.
  • Continuous Care gives a higher level of support without having to relocate to a facility.
  • Once the patient has stabilized, we return to Routine Care.

General In-Patient Care

General InPatient Care is similar to Continuous Care. However, If the symptoms cannot be managed at home, we will care for the patient in a facility. During In-Patient Care we assess the patient daily and cover room and board as long as the patient requires this level of symptom management.

Once stabilized, our team transitions your loved one back to a routine level of care.

Respite Care

Respite care is available to the primary caregivers and family in need of rest from caring for the patient. There are several local nursing facilities, as well as private respite homes available for respite care. You or your loved one will be able to stay in one of our contracted facilities for up to five (5) days per benefit period, according to Medicare guidelines.

Respite Care is a short-term relief program designed to give the primary caregiver in need of rest an opportunity to tend to other concerns. Our team will relocate you or your loved one for up to 5 days and we cover room and board during this respite period.

  • Families choose respite care to “catch up” on life, attend important events (e.g. high school graduation, church events)
  • Caregivers often depend on respite care to get rest and recharge with peace of mind that their loved one is in good hands.
  • At the end of Respite Care, the patient is transferred to Routine Care in their place of residence.

What to Look for in a Hospice Care Provider

There are a lot of hospice care providers to choose from. With that said, there are some things you’ll want to take into consideration when choosing the right hospice care provider to meet your needs. Below are a few of the things you’ll want to consider when picking your hospice care provider:

  • Transition. Transitioning to hospice care can be a difficult process. The right hospice care provider will be able to make this process as seamless as possible.
  • A Strong Staff. The right staff means the best care possible. Make sure every member of the staff is an expert in what they do.
  • On-Call Services. There are times in which on-call services are needed. Check to see if the hospice care provider you are considering is available for on-call services 24/7.
  • Frequency. The frequency of care needed varies from patient to patient. The right company will be able to provide the frequency of care you need.
  • Excellent Customer Service. From the secretary to your caregiver and everyone in-between, the customer service at the hospice care provider you choose should be top-notch. You deserve the best!

What is Music Therapy?

Music has a profound impact on the brain. It is a multi-sensory experience that affects the eyes, ears, and skin. That is why at Comfort and Peace Hospice we provide our patients with music therapy. It’s not only fun, but also backed by research to help provide patients with the cognitive, emotional, and physical support that they need.

There are a few different symptoms that music therapy can help with. These include:

  • Pain
  • Decrease brain function
  • Respiratory distress
  • Anxiety and Agitation
  • Grief
  • Depression
  • Stress

Music therapy also helps with:

  • Mood enhancement
  • Communication and expression
  • Spiritual support
  • Caregiver and family support
  • Legacy projects
  • Family bonding

The ability to hear is one of the last senses that benefits and registers with dying patients. This is especially so when it comes to music. Our music therapy program is designed to ease the discomfort of our patients and make their final days as peaceful as possible.

We Honor the Military and Our Veterans

At Comfort and Peace Hospice we are grateful to all our great military, our veterans and their families for the sacrifice they make for our beloved country. We are a proud member of the We Honor Veterans program. Our goal is to provide customized care that honors the individual and their service.

Some of our Veterans Care includes:

Assessment of military service

  • Assistance with VA and other military benefits
  • Connection with VA services
  • Honor ceremonies and events
  • Providing counselling and care that deals with service-related memories or issues
  • Assisting with military funeral and memorial services

How Long Can Someone Stay in Hospice Care in Orange County?

It is our goal at Comfort and Peace Hospice to ensure the end of our patients’ lives are as comfortable as possible. We do this by providing optimal care and attending to the physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental needs of our patients. Every patient is unique, so our approach is tailored to meet the specific needs of each of our patients. You deserve to pass in peace and with dignity. Allow Comfort and Peace Hospice to help you in the final phase of your journey.

For more information about hospice care for your loved one or yourself, reach out to Comfort and Peace Hospice in Orange County today. We’d be happy to answer any questions. We look forward to speaking with you!