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).

Why Hospice Care?

For those reaching the final stages of their life journey, hospice care can offer a level of relief that allows them to enjoy the time they have left. The end of a patient’s life can feel difficult and seem grim. Hospice care focuses on making this process easier and more positive. The end of a patient’s life can be reached in peace and dignity with hospice care, as their needs are addressed. Hospice also helps to take some of the weight off of loved ones that wish to enjoy the time they have left with the patient.

With at-home hospice care, a patient is able to stay in a familiar environment and be surrounded by loved ones while still receiving additional care to ease their end-of-life cycle. Hospice relieves a lot of the burden of taking care of a loved one before they pass, which allows people to spend more quality time with their family member without having to worry about providing aid.

Hospice care is custom to each and every patient, as different people have different needs when it comes to the end of their lives and passing on in peace. Comfort and Peace Hospice in Escondido understands that everyone deals with death differently, and we focus on meeting the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of each individual patient. There is no “one size fits all” approach.

The professionals at Comfort and Peace Hospice are top-notch, and they are all experts in their field. With their specific training for hospice care, they are able to provide services that short-term hospital care does not provide.

Comfort and Peace Hospice understands your needs, and we promise to do everything in our power to help meet and exceed your expectations for care. Whether it is at-home or in-patient care, we will help your loved one or you to meet the end of the journey with peace and serenity.

Who is Hospice Care in Escondido, California for?

There are certain illnesses like cancer that people immediately think of when hospice care comes to mind. In reality, patients that suffer from a variety of different illnesses can benefit from hospice care.

Essentially, hospice care is for anyone that is reaching the end of their life that would like to improve their quality of life in their final days. This includes meeting the emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of the patient. The team at Comfort and Peace Hospice is trained to expertly provide support to patients that suffer from a variety of different types of illnesses. By understanding these nuances, our team is able to tailor the support their patient receives to meet their specific needs.

To meet the medical requirements for hospice care, a patient will need two physicians to certify the patient has a terminal prognosis. This means that if an illness continues, the patient will pass in around 6 months or so. If the patient lives beyond these six months, hospice care can be extended.

Some of the most 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 feel like hospice care would be a good option, contact a physician. They will be able to determine if hospice care is the right decision. With that said, a lot of physicians will recommend hospice care on their own.

Insurance may be a factor for hospice care, so it’s important for a patient to check with their insurance provider to see if hospice care is an option and what limitations there may be.

What to Expect

A lot of patients find the process of beginning hospice care stressful, but a lot of that stress simply comes from not knowing what to expect. At Comfort and Peace Hospice, we make sure the process of beginning hospice care is as easy as possible. It’s actually a lot easier to get started than you may think!

There are a few different types of hospice care you’ll want to consider when choosing what level of care is right for you. These include:

Routine Home Care

Routine home care is a common care option, and it involves a patient being cared for at home. This form of care is provided by social workers, trained staff members, and volunteers. With this form of hospice care, the patient’s pain is managed, they receive mental relief, and they can even receive spiritual relief. Routine home care allows a patient to reach their end of life in a familiar place with optimal comfort and peace.

Continuous Care

Continuous care is for patients that require several hours of care a day, and upwards of 24 hours of continuous care until a crisis has passed. This care is designed for patients with a high level of need. Continuous care is initiated when anxiety, respiratory distress, and/or pain becomes intolerable. A continuous care specialist stays with the patient and helps to control the symptoms. If possible, they will also address the core issue. Once the patient has been stabilized, they can return to a lower level of care.

General In-Patient Care

General in-patient care is designed for those that need a little more support than what can be provided at home. This is generally a short-term solution. During the in-patient care process, symptom management is provided for patients. After the patient has been stabilized, they can be transitioned back to at-home, routine care.

Respite Care

As a caregiver, it is extremely rewarding, but also very taxing. Many loved ones that provide care for a patient find that they get burnt out over time. They also may fall behind on their obligations, which can lead to issues in their personal and work life. Respite care offers a short-term solution.

Respite care involves a patient visiting a hospice care facility for a short while so the caregiver can take a break and relax. Our team at Comfort and Peace Hospice provides top-quality care for those staying at our facility, and you can rest assured that all of the needs of your loved one will be met.

Once you’ve rested up, your loved one can be transitioned back to at-home care where you can continue to provide them with support.

What to Look for in a Hospice Care Provider in Escondido

When you are looking for the right provider for hospice care for a loved one or yourself, there are a few things you’ll want to consider:

  • Frequency. There are different levels of frequency depending on the hospice care provider. Make sure you choose a company that provides the right amount of frequency to meet your needs.
  • Transition. The right hospice care provider will make the transition phase that much easier. It can be a difficult time. Pick a company that makes it a little less difficult.
  • A Strong Staff. One of the top considerations when picking a hospice care provider is the staff. From the receptionist to the at-home caregivers, you’ll want to make sure every member of the team is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. You’ll also want to pick a provider that has a good ratio of nurses to patients. This will allow for better personalized care.
  • Quick Response Time. If anything happens with a patient, it’s important for the hospice care provider to be able to respond quickly.
  • Excellent Customer Service. The right hospice care provider will have a friendly and helpful staff. End of life is difficult enough as it is. The hospice care provider in Escondido you choose should make the process that much easier.
  • On-Call Services. Your hospice care provider should always be available. This means 24/7. If the need for an unplanned visit arises, your provider should be able to meet with you anytime—day or night.

About Music Therapy

One service that we specialize in at Comfort and Peace Hospice in Escondido is music therapy. Music therapy is not only fun, but it is also backed up by clinical research. Hearing is one of the last senses that registers and benefits dying patients. This is even more so when it comes to music.

Some of the symptoms music therapy can help with 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

Research continues to show how major of an impact music has on the brain. What many people don’t know is that music is a multi-sensory experience. It involves not only our ears, but also our eyes and skin. Because of this, music has a strong impact on a patient’s cognitive, emotional, and even physical wellbeing.

Veteran Hospice Care

At Comfort and Peace Hospice, we deeply respect and admire veterans. They have made amazing sacrifices for our country, so we do everything we can to honor them and their service. Some of the veteran care services we provide include:

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

We ensure that all of our veteran patients get the sendoff they deserve.

How Long Can Someone Stay in Hospice Care in Escondido, California?

Hospice care is generally around six months, but it may be extended. As long as a patient meets the Medicare criteria or that of their insurance provider, they are welcome to continue to benefit from hospice care services.