Helping with a Serious Illness

Hospice can help you improve the quality of life for patients facing serious illness. Many are medically eligible for hospice care and would benefit from our support sooner. If you think your loved one may benefit from our care, we’ll make a home visit to help you see the reality of life at home and determine if they are medically eligible for hospice. We will only admit those that are medically eligible.

 

As an extension of your services in the home, we’ll work directly with you to help provide management of your patient’s symptoms, as well as keep you informed of their progress. We’ll act as your eyes and ears as we visit them in their homes, educating them about their medications, improving diet, educating them about their illness and helping both your loved one and their family deal with lost abilities, independence and the stresses associated with their illness. We can ensure they feel more confident and have a better quality of life by helping control their symptoms while giving them the support they need to cope.

 

Patients might be medically eligible for hospice if they are experiencing the following possible indicators:

 

• Unintended weight loss

 

• Dependence in 3 or more Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as walking, eating, toileting, dressing, bathing, etc.

 

• Progressive disease

 

• Increasing Emergency Room visits and/or hospitalizations for complications of disease

 

• Patient/family choosing to focus on comfort rather than cure of the disease

 

• Patient/caregiver experiencing increased stress, signs of anxiety

 

• Patient/family habitually calling your office with questions about medications, symptoms they are experiencing, etc.