Let me ask…
do you know someone with a serious disease
with a prognosis six months or less to live,
if the disease runs its normal course?
Are you trying to break the cycle of returning
again and again to the hospital or emergency room?
Have you seen how a life limiting illness
has diminished your loved one's quality of life?
Do you want to do something about this?
To move from treating an illness to caring for a person?
In this first video of our hospice education series
I want to help you understand what hospice really is.
I will explain how specialized teams work
together to deliver personalized care to patients
and families.
I want to help you understand that hospice
is a philosophy of care.
One that reduces the burden of medical care
so patients and their families can focus on what truly matters,
their time together. Hello. I'm Karen Rubel,
President and CEO of Nathan Adelson Hospice,
the oldest,
largest and only non-profit hospice in southern Nevada.
Over the years we've learned that when a patient is no
longer able or no longer wants to treat their life-limiting
illness their priorities change.
What's important now is to find a way to experience
the best quality of life.
Many people find that hospice is the right
answer for them or their loved one.
Hospice is designed to meet the specific needs
of patients and families during the end of life journey.
A terminally ill patient and their family often deal
with a complex mix of physical, social,
emotional and spiritual needs.
We found the best way to address all these
different needs is with a team of skilled professionals
trained in end of life care.
Most families would find it impossible to assemble
such a team. So hospice does it for you.
These skilled professionals work closely
with you and each other to optimize care at every stage.
We've produced a separate video that describes
in detail the different members of the hospice care team
and the important roles they each play.
You can find the link in the description if you wish
to learn more.
When a patient is receiving hospice care
this interdisciplinary group develops a plan of care.
Using the plan the team coordinates
regular nursing visits,
assistance with personal care such as bathing,
as well as emotional, social and spiritual support.
Prescriptions related to pain and comfort
are delivered to the home along with durable medical
equipment and supplies such as a hospital bed,
nebulizers, walkers and more.
In general hospice will assist in any way it can
to make care as convenient and safe as possible.
As a result you have more energy and opportunities to spend
quality time with your loved one.
Hospice strives to make patients as physically
comfortable as possible while making the most
of the time that remains.
Yet the end of the life journey affects more than just the body.
It touches all areas of a person's life as well
as their family.
Patients and their families face new
stresses which can trigger fear, anxiety or depression.
Hospice professionals help you deal with emotional,
social and spiritual issues.
Some of the problems brought on by a critical
illness are practical such as financial strains,
job related problems, insurance or legal issues.
Hospice can help with advice on how to handle
these practical hardships too.
It's important to know that hospice is not a place,
it's a philosophy of care.
Given a choice most people would prefer to be
at home when they're ill.
It's no different for people with a terminal illness.
So almost all of hospice care is delivered in the home.
For different patients their home may be their private
residence or that of a loved one,
an assisted living center or skilled nursing facility.
There are times when inpatient care may be needed.
There are several reasons why a patient may be admitted
to a hospice inpatient unit.
When a patient has symptoms or pain that cannot
be treated safely at home…
Or the patient requires careful supervision only
available in a medical facility.
Once stabilized patients can be transported to their
home to continue their care.
For more information about where hospice care takes
place we put together another video that provides more detail.
Just click the link in the description.
Hospice is a complex topic so we encourage
you to continue with our hospice education playlist.
We've put together helpful videos that walk you through
topics such as “Who pays for it…”
“Who is eligible to receive hospice care…” “What to expect…”
and more.
The fact that you're exploring hospice is a very positive sign.
It means you're considering what's best
for a loved one and their family.
The philosophy of hospice is to provide support and care
so that people with a life limiting illness may live
as fully and comfortably as possible.
At Nathan Addison Hospice we do all we can to make
sure that no one in our care ends the journey of life alone,
afraid or in pain. Thank you.
If you have additional questions feel free to reach out
to us or leave a comment below.