Hospice has come a long way since it was first introduced in England and Ireland in the 19th<\/sup> century, and since its modern inception in England by Dr. Cicely Saunders in 1967.\u00a0 The compassionate and care-focused approach of hospice has benefited millions of terminally ill patients and their families.\u00a0 However, the practice of hospice is largely unfamiliar outside of the medical community and people with firsthand experience with hospice.\u00a0<\/p>\n There are many misconceptions about hospice.\u00a0 One of these is the mistaken belief that hospice is designed to speed up the dying process.\u00a0 It is necessary for a doctor to determine that he\/she believes that a patient has 6 months or less to live.\u00a0 However, it is common for people who have been put on hospice to do better than they would otherwise.\u00a0 Under hospice programs, patients receive the focused care of physicians, RN\u2019s, social workers, CNA\u2019s\/caregivers and volunteers.\u00a0 At SYNERGY HomeCare, we have had a number of clients graduate off hospice after their condition improved.\u00a0<\/p>\n It used to be true that most people spent their last days in a hospital or care institution.\u00a0 However, with hospice, patients and their families can decide where they receive care.\u00a0 Approximately 60% of people on hospice receive hospice care at home.\u00a0 And a large percentage of the remainder receive care at independent and assisted living residences.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hospice used to be synonymous with terminal cancer.\u00a0 However, any terminal condition or advanced illness, as diagnosed by a doctor, can lead to a hospice recommendation.\u00a0 Some of the most common conditions associated with hospice are Alzheimer’s\/dementia, heart disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), stroke, coma, and cancer.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Many people believe that once a person is put on hospice, all medical care is withheld.\u00a0 This is incorrect.\u00a0 Once put on hospice, it is true that medical care designed to treat the illness or condition associated with the hospice determination is withheld.\u00a0 However, minor ailments could still be treated.\u00a0 Most people on hospice have a DNR, but a family has the right to intervene in an emergency situation.\u00a0 It is important for patients and their families to discuss these issues with the hospice provider at the initiation of hospice.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In 1982, the U.S. Congress initiated a Medicare benefit for hospice which became permanent in 1986.\u00a0 This provides for Medicare coverage of most direct hospice services.\u00a0 This greatly reduces the financial burden of families.\u00a0 \u00a0While most hospices are Medicare-certified, it is advisable to discuss potential costs with the hospice you choose to work with.\u00a0<\/p>\n Many patients and their families decide to contact a hospice near the very end of life, often the last few days or weeks.\u00a0 While it is very difficult to accept the potential death of a loved one, this can actually be detrimental.\u00a0 Hospice provides many benefits to both the patient and their family.\u00a0 In the case of the patient, the primary goal of hospice is pain management.\u00a0 Engaging a hospice earlier allows for medical practitioners to better understand the patient\u2019s pain threshold and to manage their care over time as their situation changes.\u00a0 Bringing on hospice care earlier also helps the patient and their family with the additional support of social workers, RN\u2019s, CNA\u2019s\/caregivers, and chaplains.\u00a0 Hospices can arrange for beneficial equipment such as a hospital bed.\u00a0\u00a0 The staff can also provide respite care for family members; end of life situations can be both emotionally and physically draining.\u00a0<\/p>\n At SYNERGY HomeCare, our administrative staff and our caregivers\/CNA\u2019s have experience working with clients on hospice.\u00a0 We can help coordinate care with Tucson-area hospices.\u00a0 Our caregivers\/CNA\u2019s have experience providing the personal care required for people on hospice \u2013 bathing, dressing, feeding, transfer assistance, and toileting.\u00a0 They also provide the compassionate personal attention so necessary at this time of life.\u00a0 Our staff also makes it easy for family members and friends to take the respite care they require.\u00a0<\/p>\n The compassionate and care-focused approach of hospice has benefited millions of terminally ill patients and their families.\u00a0 However, the practice of hospice is largely unfamiliar outside of the medical community and people with firsthand experience with hospice.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n