The diagnosis of terminal illnesses should never be taken as a death sentence. Indeed persons with such illnesses should be treated like any other patients and should receive the best medical care available. This ensures that they increase both the quality and the quantity of what is left of their lives in the world. There are a number of Carrolltown hospice care services patients should know about if they have been diagnosed with such an illness.
One of the most important roles of a hospice is to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible. This enables them to continue being in charge of their lives and to make important decisions that are usually required at that point. Any cancer medications prescribed by the doctor continue to be administered to take care of the pain and any other associated symptoms. Side effects related to the medications are managed as well.
There are a number of different arrangements that you can consider. These include home-based care, inpatient care in a healthcare facility or a mixture of both. The choice is determined by a number of factors that include, the stage and type of the illness, distance from a hospital (in case of an emergency) and availability of care givers at home. Advanced and complicated cases should ideally be monitored closely in hospital.
Another benefit of a hospice is that it provides spiritual care. As their life slowly grows to an end, patients with terminal illnesses tend to have an increased need for spiritual nourishment. A hospice will arrange to have a spiritual leader, literature and fellowship with other faithful. It has been observed that with this kind of spiritual care, the overall health of the patient improves markedly.
The family should be involved actively in the treatment process to realize optimal results. Hospices often organize meetings that are usually led by the hospice nurse or doctor. The healthcare provider informs of the family of the progress being made or whether there are any challenges that should be addressed. In addition both the patient and the family members get an opportunity to express themselves about various aspects of the illness which in the long run helps to improve management.
Cancer treatment is usually intensive and requires a number of varied specialties. There is a need to have a multidisciplinary team that sees the patient on a daily basis to address various aspects of treatment. Some of the members of this team include the doctor, the inpatient facility involved in admissions, the pharmacist, the clergy and so on. This kind of coordination is best done within a hospice since most if not all the specialists needed are available.
Respite care may be provided for those that chose the home-based arrangement. What this means is that relatives are relieved of the duties of taking care of the patient for some time so that they can have an opportunity to engage in other activities. Such may include vacations, weddings, traveling and so on. During this period, the patient is accommodated in an in-patient facility.
Within months or a couple of years death is bound to strike. Both the patient and their relatives need to be prepared for this event by the hospice. The hospice should ideally provide support during the mourning period through counseling services by a professional counselor or a clergy member. In some instances, the hospice provides a funeral director to help with burial arrangements.
One of the most important roles of a hospice is to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible. This enables them to continue being in charge of their lives and to make important decisions that are usually required at that point. Any cancer medications prescribed by the doctor continue to be administered to take care of the pain and any other associated symptoms. Side effects related to the medications are managed as well.
There are a number of different arrangements that you can consider. These include home-based care, inpatient care in a healthcare facility or a mixture of both. The choice is determined by a number of factors that include, the stage and type of the illness, distance from a hospital (in case of an emergency) and availability of care givers at home. Advanced and complicated cases should ideally be monitored closely in hospital.
Another benefit of a hospice is that it provides spiritual care. As their life slowly grows to an end, patients with terminal illnesses tend to have an increased need for spiritual nourishment. A hospice will arrange to have a spiritual leader, literature and fellowship with other faithful. It has been observed that with this kind of spiritual care, the overall health of the patient improves markedly.
The family should be involved actively in the treatment process to realize optimal results. Hospices often organize meetings that are usually led by the hospice nurse or doctor. The healthcare provider informs of the family of the progress being made or whether there are any challenges that should be addressed. In addition both the patient and the family members get an opportunity to express themselves about various aspects of the illness which in the long run helps to improve management.
Cancer treatment is usually intensive and requires a number of varied specialties. There is a need to have a multidisciplinary team that sees the patient on a daily basis to address various aspects of treatment. Some of the members of this team include the doctor, the inpatient facility involved in admissions, the pharmacist, the clergy and so on. This kind of coordination is best done within a hospice since most if not all the specialists needed are available.
Respite care may be provided for those that chose the home-based arrangement. What this means is that relatives are relieved of the duties of taking care of the patient for some time so that they can have an opportunity to engage in other activities. Such may include vacations, weddings, traveling and so on. During this period, the patient is accommodated in an in-patient facility.
Within months or a couple of years death is bound to strike. Both the patient and their relatives need to be prepared for this event by the hospice. The hospice should ideally provide support during the mourning period through counseling services by a professional counselor or a clergy member. In some instances, the hospice provides a funeral director to help with burial arrangements.