If you have a loved one dealing with a life-limiting illness, you may be wondering, “what services does hospice provide?”
Don’t worry; you’re not alone. There’s a lot of confusion surrounding what hospice care is and what it does. A study conducted by the Journal of Palliative Medicine found that many hospice patients still hold significant misperceptions regarding hospice’s role in their care.
Keep reading to learn more about the services Seasons Hospice provides to our patients.
Hospice Care Services Overview
Hospice care services are dedicated to helping those diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses be as comfortable as possible in their final days.
What staff members are a part of hospice care?
Regardless of where you receive care, most hospice care teams have similar construction. Here is a breakdown of our teams at Seasons Hospice:
- Medical directors oversee your loved one’s care at Seasons, ensuring they receive care tailored to their needs. If your loved one decides to receive care at Seasons, they can remain with their current primary care doctor as well.
- Resident nurses (RN) administer medical services depending on your loved one’s needs. Nurses usually visit once a week to check their patient’s status and make changes to their care regiment.
- Personal care support aides can provide non-medical care for your loved one. They help patients with tasks like brushing teeth, washing hair, etc. Your work as a caregiver can be taxing. Our aides can also help caregivers with chores around the house, giving you a moment of rest.
- Chaplains offer spiritual support to patients who wish to receive it. From scripture reading to prayer, chaplains can help your loved one find peace and meaning in the final chapter of life.
- Social workers can help you and your loved one resolve any lingering end-of-life planning.
What type of services does hospice provide?
Seasons Hospice offers a variety of services to help our patients and their families. We’ve broken down some of our most prominent services into three categories below.
Healthcare services
- Nursing services: RNs visit patients in residential homes, nursing homes and hospitals. All care is tailored toward the patient’s exact needs to help them to feel comfortable and pain-free.
- Physician services: Physicians help oversee the care of hospice patients.
- Pain management: One of the biggest goals of hospice care is to help reduce the symptoms associated with end-of-life illnesses. Palliative care helps lower pain levels without reducing cognitive ability.
- Durable medical equipment (DME): Seasons Hospice offers durable medical equipment as a part of your hospice service. Our DME service means you don’t have to worry about supplying costly equipment. We deliver it stress-free to your loved one’s place of residence.
Personal care and homemaker services
- Home health and personal care aid: Our care aides and volunteers give caregivers a break from the tiring care that hospice patients usually require. From washing hair to brushing teeth, these activities help our patients to look and feel better.
- Homemaking and caregiver support: Our care aides and volunteers help caregivers with errands and around-the-house chores, giving them a much-needed-break.
Emotional and Spiritual Support
- Chaplain services: We designed spiritual support to help your loved one through end-of-life questions. While we are a faith-based organization, we respect your decision to decline spiritual support and work to accommodate your needs.
- Bereavement counseling: Seasons Hospice offers bereavement counseling for the families of our patients who have passed. We offer counseling for up to 13 months after the passing of a loved one.
- Social work services: Social services are available for our patients and their families to help them work through end-of-life stress. Social workers also help patients make sure they have end-of-life items completed, such as funeral planning or will writing.
How much will hospice cost?
The Medicare hospice benefit covers over 85% of hospice patients. Most Medicaid and private insurance plans also cover hospice care. The last thing we want is for you and your loved one to worry about how you will pay for hospice care.
What considerations should I make when choosing a hospice care provider?
Here are two essential questions you should ask when deciding on a hospice care provider for your loved one:
- Do their services fit my loved one’s needs? Seasons Hospice offers more than standard services for hospice care. We provide excellent pain management and medical care to patients and caregiver support for their families.
- What kind of experience will my loved one have with this hospice? At Seasons Hospice, you will get the best care from an experienced, compassionate staff. We have a reputation for going above and beyond typical hospice care.
If you have a loved one who is dealing with a life-limiting illness, contact Seasons Hospice today. We offer excellent care for you and your loved one helping add more life to the final chapter of their life.
Have more questions about our hospice care? Check out our FAQ page for more information.
