The final days of a patient’s life can be very difficult. There is a lot of discomfort that often comes with the end—be it emotional, physical, mental, or even spiritual. In order to be as comfortable as possible during this time, it’s good for a patient to have a caregiver that understands the unique challenges of caring for a patient with a life-limiting illness. For an outstanding hospice care provider, reach out to Comfort and Peace Hospice.

Comfort and Peace Hospice specializes in helping patients with life-limiting illnesses to get the support they need when they need it most. It is our goal to help patients to spend their final days in peace and happiness, and to pass on in dignity and comfort. 

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is a form of care intended to help patients with life-limiting illnesses that require additional support. This includes providing emotional support, physical care, therapy, and spiritual care. The goal of a hospice care provider is to help their patients to spend their final days in peace.

To learn more about hospice care, reach out to Comfort and Peace. We’d be happy to discuss the advantages of hospice care and how we can help your loved one or you.

Who is Hospice Care for?

Hospice care is for anyone that has a life-limiting illness and needs additional support. While many people think hospice care is only for cancer patients, this is not the case. If you have a loved one that is reaching the end or you are, hospice care may be an excellent choice to meet your emotional, physical, and psychological needs.

In order to get approved for hospice care, a patient must be certified by two separate physicians. While this is the case, many times a physician will actually suggest hospice care for the patient. Once it’s been determined that someone is a good candidate for hospice care, they’ll need to speak with the insurance company or Medicare about coverage.

A patient is a good candidate if they have around 6 months left or less. If a patient lives longer than this time period, they may continue to be a candidate for hospice care.  

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

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

If your loved one or you are in your final days, reach out to Comfort and Peace Hospice. We’ll provide you with more information about hospice care and qualifications. You’ll also want to speak with your primary physician. They will be able to approve you for hospice care if they feel you are a good candidate for this level of care.

What Are the 4 Levels of Hospice Care?

Hospice care takes a few different forms. Below are the most common types of hospice care:

Routine Home Care

Routine home care is very common. It involves a patient receiving hospice care at home. During this time, the patient will receive care from medical professionals, social workers, and even volunteers. Their spiritual needs are met, pain is managed, and they receive mental and emotional support. Routine home care provides patients with the peace they need to enjoy their final days.

General Inpatient Care

If a patient needs additional support for a period of time, general inpatient care may be required. During this process, the patient resides at a hospice care facility. They receive extra care that addresses symptoms and helps to stabilize them. Once the patient is stabilized, they can return home for routine care.

Respite Care

While you may be doing an excellent job as the primary caregiver for your loved one, you may also need some time off to rest.

Respite care is a form of care that involves a patient checking into a facility for a short period of time. This form of care allows the primary caregiver to take a break and recharge. They are also able to take care of outside obligations that they may have fallen behind on. Once they have recharged their batteries, they can bring the patient home and continue care.

Patients receive top-quality care and support during respite care. If you are the primary caregiver, you don’t need to worry about your loved one. It is guaranteed they will be taken care of extremely well during your time off.

Continuous Care

If a patient is going through a crisis, continuous care may be required. This may be due to anxiety, extreme pain, and/or respiratory distress. Continuous care involves a patient being cared for anywhere from a few hours a day to a few full days. If the caregiver can address the core issues, they will. Otherwise, they will handle the symptoms until they pass.