Tuesday, June 27, 2006

What does the term "Hospice" mean?  Hospice is a concept rooted in the centuries-old idea of offering a place of shelter and rest, or "hospitality" to weary and sick travellers on a long journey.

Who coined the phrase "Hospice"? Dame Cicely Saunders - London, England - 1967
When does a patient qualify for Hospice care?  Hospice care is appropriate when you can no longer benefit from curative treatment and life expectancy is, at most, no longer than 6 months.

Who determines when Hospice care is appropriate?  The patient, their family and their medical doctor decide together when hospice should begin.
What are the 9 Basic Elements of Hospice Care? 

Interdisciplinary Team Care: Typically, an interdisciplinary health care team of physicians, nurses, social workers, counsellors, home health aides, clergy, therapists, and trained volunteers cares for you, offering support based on their particular areas of expertise.

Together, they provide comprehensive palliative care aimed at relieving symptoms and giving social, emotional, and spiritual support.

Pain and Symptom Control: The objective of pain and symptom control is to help you to be comfortable while allowing you to remain in control of your life. This means that side effects are managed to ensure that you are as free of pain and symptoms as possible, yet still alert enough to make important decisions.

Spiritual Care: Hospice care emphasizes the spiritual needs of you and your family. Since people differ in their spiritual needs and religious beliefs, spiritual care is individualized to meet your and your family's needs and may include helping you to look at what death means to you, to say good-bye, or to perform a specific religious ceremony or ritual.

Home Care and Inpatient Care: Although hospice care can be centred in the home, it may be necessary to be admitted to a hospital, extended-care facility, or a hospice inpatient facility. The hospice can arrange for inpatient care and will stay involved in your treatment and with the family, resuming in-home care when appropriate.

Respite Care: While you are in hospice, your family and caregivers may need some time away from the intensity of care-giving. Hospice service offers them a break through respite care, which is provided in 5-day periods. You will be cared for either in the hospice facility or in contracted beds in nursing homes or hospitals. Families can plan a mini-vacation, attend special events, or simply get much needed rest and recreation at home while you are cared for in an inpatient setting.

Family Conferences: Through regularly scheduled family conferences, often facilitated by the hospice nurse or social worker, family members can stay informed about your condition and what to expect. Family conferences also provide a chance to share feelings, talk about expectations, and learn about death and the process of dying. Family members can find great support and stress relief through family conferences.

Bereavement Care: Bereavement is the time of mourning following a loss. The hospice care team works with surviving family members to help them through the grieving process.

A trained volunteer, clergy member, or professional counsellor provides support to
survivors through visits, phone calls, and/or letter contact, as well as through support groups. The hospice team can refer family members and care-giving friends to other medical or professional care if necessary.

Staff Support: Hospice care involves staff who are empathetic, good communicators and listeners, and who are interested in working with people who have life-threatening illnesses. Yet because the work can be emotionally draining, it is essential that support is available to help staff deal with the work-related stress that they may experience. Ongoing education about the dying process is also an important part of staff support.

Coordination of Care: The interdisciplinary team coordinates and supervises all care 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This team is responsible for communicating between the inpatient facility, the home care agency, the physician, and other community professionals, such as pharmacists, clergy, and funeral directors.

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