(Family Features) As families prepare for the future and consider hospice care for loved ones, it’s important to know and understand what hospice care is and how it can help both patients and their caregivers.
“In my experience, patients and families value the support and care they receive from hospice and often wish they had enrolled in hospice sooner to take full advantage of the services,” said Laura Hofmann, M.D., education medical director and hospice and palliative care physician at Capital Caring Health. “Surveys of families also show this is true. I have found this delay is often due to some common misconceptions about hospice services among patients, families and even health care providers.”
Consider these four hospice care facts to know:
Hospice is More Than End-of-Life Care
Hospice care helps patients and their loved ones have more time together to focus on doing what is most important to them when facing serious illnesses. Expert clinical staff relieve pain and manage symptoms. People often spend a few days, weeks or months in hospice care, but many are treated for longer periods.
Hospice Care is Typically Affordable
Americans are eligible to receive hospice care through Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. In addition, Capital Caring Health will not turn away patients for financial reasons.
Hospice Treats Families and Patients
Hospice care teams work closely with families and caregivers to make sure they receive the emotional, spiritual and physical support they may want and need. Hospice also provides additional services when caregivers are unavailable or need a break.
Services Extend Beyond Hospice
To provide support to people with serious or age-related illnesses, a provider like Capital Caring Health can provide a range of services in addition to hospice, including:
- Primary Care at Home: Bringing primary care into the homes of people with mobility issues, making it easier to get the care they need.
- Advanced Illness Care: Improving the quality of life for people living with serious illnesses and administering support to their families.
- Additional Services: Providing a range of additional services for patients and their families, including grief counseling, special support to veterans and other non-traditional health care services.
Find more information at capitalcaring.org or call the 24-hour care line at 1-800-869-2136.
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