What is Hospice Care?
Hospice provides a special, one on one type of care for a person with a life limiting illness with a focus on quality of life in the last months, weeks and days. This care is brought to the patient’s residence; this prevents unnecessary emergency room visits or hospitalizations. Care is focused on a patient’s right to dignity at a time when they may be dependent on others for personal care and activities of daily living. Hospice is about living. Support is provided to the patient’s families and loved ones, with counseling and bereavement services, including support groups.
The hospice team includes: a physician, registered nurse, nursing assistant, social worker, chaplain and volunteers. All members are trained professionals. This team will advocate for the patient’s right to be informed and to direct their own plan of care.
Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other insurances, often without cost to the family. Under hospice services, many medications, medical equipment and personal supplies are covered. Ambercare owns its own medical equipment and delivers to the patient’s home at the time of admission to services and at any time under hospice care.
Hospice does not provide 24 hour care like a hospital, nursing home, or assisted living facility. It does not take the place of caregivers. The hospice team works with the family or facility providing education, guidance and support through routine visits. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to address urgent needs.
Ambercare has a physician on staff who follows many of our patient’s care, however if the patient has a physician that is willing to follow the patient on hospice services, this can be arranged. The hospice team will coordinate care with this physician.
Hospice does not treat terminal illnesses aggressively. Hospice is comfort care that is concerned with pain and symptom management as well as emotional and spiritual well-being. Hospice care is a type of palliative care. Hospice care begins in the final months of life, and patients can receive palliative care for years. Hospice does not hasten or prolong death. Hospice supports the patient, family, and loved ones through this special journey.