Hospice and Palliative Care – SYNERGY HomeCare of Tucson, AZ
SYNERGY HomeCare offers compassionate in-home hospice and palliative care services, providing the support, comfort, and dignity that individuals and their families need in Tucson, AZ. We consider it an honor to assist clients and their families during this time. Our dedicated hospice- and palliative-trained caregivers are here to ensure that you or your loved one receive the highest quality, compassionate care in the comfort of your own home.
At SYNERGY HomeCare, it is our mission to provide exceptional care and support for our clients and their families. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for all of our clients, including those on hospice and palliative care. Our client-centered focus is based on the commitment to provide the same care that we would expect for our own families. This commitment from our owners has differentiated SYNERGY HomeCare in Tucson, AZ and has contributed to us receiving national awards and has resulted in high levels of satisfaction for our clients.
We have experience supporting clients who are on palliative or hospice care for a wide variety of conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, and general age-related decline.
WHY CHOSE SYNERGY HOMECARE FOR IN-HOME HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
When it comes to in-home hospice and palliative care, SYNERGY HomeCare of Tucson stands out for many reasons:
- Compassion and Empathy: We only hire caregivers with a heart for caring for others – you cannot teach this. Our hospice/palliative caregivers approach every situation with compassion and empathy, creating a warm, supportive environment for clients and their families.
- Comfort and Dignity: The comfort and dignity of clients is our first priority. Comfort care, including pain management, is a daily focus of our caregivers.
- Customized Care Plans: We tailor care plans around the unique personality and needs of each client. We welcome input from clients and their families.
- Experienced Hospice Care Team: Our caregivers are trained and experienced in providing care for individuals on hospice or palliative care. All of our office staff members have personal experience with hospice.
- Hospice Provider Coordination: We have experience working with hospice providers in Tucson. We work closely with hospice teams, ensuring continuity of care and ongoing communication.
- Flexibility: We do not force schedules or commitments on clients. You can choose the amount of care you need and make changes as needed. You can make a schedule change with 24-hour notice.
- Client Focused Culture: We strive to support clients and their families in whatever capacity is needed. We have had several clients graduate off hospice – we share in their happiness when this occurs. Providing in-home hospice and palliative care is deeply personal.
OUR HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES
- Emotional Support: We provide companionship and emotional support during the entire process. Caregivers are experienced in working through situations with compassion and understanding.
- Comfort Management: Hospice and palliative caregivers work within the care plan of the hospice medical staff or that of other medical professionals. Medication plans are followed closely to ensure comfort and wellbeing.
- Personal Care: Caregivers assist with bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting. They help provide clients with the dignity they deserve. Small gestures of care and attention help preserve a person’s dignity.
- Hydration and Nutrition: Caregivers provide proper hydration and nutrition and adjust as needs change. Attention to detail helps improve quality of life.
- Transportation: Caregivers can drive clients to appointments and run errands.
- Safety Supervision and Transfer Assistance: Our caregivers are there to make sure that you or your loved one remain safe and comfortable. Caregivers are trained in transfer techniques to allow for safe transfers for toileting and bathing, and for simply moving about your home.
- Hospital to Home: Our services include help in the transition from hospital back home. These services cover the comprehensive support you need to comfortably and confidently return home.
- Family Support: Understanding the hospice process can be challenging to anyone. We help navigate clients and families through the process and answer any questions along the way.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE?
Hospice care and palliative care are both focused on providing comfort and support for individuals who are experiencing serious disease conditions. However, they differ in several ways:
Goal of Care
- Hospice: The primary focus of hospice care is to provide comfort and support to people with a terminal illness who have a life expectancy of six months or less as determined by a qualified medical practitioner – as defined by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Hospice care is centered around enhancing quality of life for people, including pain management, and emotional and spiritual support.
- Palliative Care: The focus of palliative care is much broader than that of hospice care. While it is also intended for those with serious illness or disease, it can be for any stage of the illness, not just end of life. Palliative care can also include curative care for the disease or other chronic conditions. It does not require a terminal diagnosis. At the same time, it also focuses on maintaining or improving quality of life by addressing the physical and emotional needs of the person.
When Advised
- Hospice: Hospice is recommended when curative treatments are no longer effective, and it is expected that the patient has six months or less to live. It is sometimes determined by the patient when the individual no longer wishes to prolong a complicated or difficult treatment for the disease.
- Palliative Care: The timing differs from hospice in that palliative care can be initiated at any stage of the serious illness or disease, from diagnosis to any stage of treatment.
Location of Care
- Hospice: Hospice care is designed to be provided in a person’s home. Most people are physically and emotionally more comfortable in their own home. Caregivers and hospice staff attend to people there. One exception is the respite benefit offered under hospice care. It allows for up to five days of respite care at an in-patient hospice facility or qualified, Medicare-approved facility.
- Palliative Care: Palliative care on the other hand can be provided or delivered in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient practices, long-term care facilities, or a person’s home.
Services Provided
- Hospice: Hospice services will focus on comfort care. This includes pain management, personal care, and emotional support. Emotional support includes help for the family as well as the individual on hospice.
- Palliative Care: Palliative care includes a broader range of medical support beyond just pain management. This includes symptom management for the disease itself and other conditions. While it is common for individuals on hospice to discontinue prescription medications, it is not for those receiving palliative care. Like hospice, palliative care will include help with personal care and provide emotional support.
In summary, hospice care and palliative care share some common benefits to patients and families, including pain management, personal care assistance, and emotional support. And both can be delivered through in-home care. However, they differ in a very distinct manner. Hospice requires a diagnosed terminal illness with a prognosis of less than six months to live – and life preserving treatments are withheld. Palliative care on the other hand includes curative treatments and can be prescribed at any stage of the illness.
WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY A HOSPICE COMPARED TO SYNERGY HOMECARE?
SYNERGY HomeCare works closely with hospice and palliative care providers in Tucson, AZ. While hospice and home care work in tandem, they provide unique but complimentary services:
- Hospice Provider: The hospice company will provide pain management and comfort medications. Medications will be prescribed by a qualified medical professional. The medications will be delivered by a hospice nurse. The hospice team will typically include the nurse, a social worker, an aide, and a chaplain. The nurse will visit the patient as needed at home. The social worker will visit the patient and family, and coordinate care as needed. The aide will typically visit the patient twice a week for bathing. The chaplain will visit and be available to the patient and family. Hospice will also typically provide equipment such as a hospital bed or commode.
- SYNERGY HomeCare: When a client of ours is on hospice, our care is coordinated with the hospice provider. We provide the care and support that is required beyond what the hospice delivers. Our care focus includes comfort care and emotional support, as well as help with daily activities. Daily activities include personal care assistance (bathing, grooming, and dressing), transfer assistance (e.g. bed to toilet, bed to chair, etc.), errands, and housekeeping. You can think of a caregiver as someone who can lend a hand with almost any daily need and be there when comfort is needed. Caregivers provide respite care for family members. We can be there for just a few hours per week up to 24/7 care.
At SYNERGY HomeCare of Tucson, we believe that hospice or palliative care is a gift. Hospice and palliative care allow clients and their families to receive the support they need. You do not need to go through this alone – we are here to help you along every step of the journey.
We provide the help you need from a few hours per day up to 24/7 care.
Contact us today at 520-327-2771 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – to learn how we can support you and your loved ones, ensuring comfort, dignity and peace.
