Many people think being on hospice means lying in a bed, barely conscious. However, this perception is not an accurate one. Many hospice patients' final moments are spent enjoying quality time with family and friends and creating special moments and memories. This would not be possible without the help of hospice.
The mission of hospice is to provide specialized care for patients in the final weeks and months of life and their families. More simply, hospice care supports living one’s life to the fullest with dignity regardless of how much time remains.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7429131-moments-of-life-by-hospice/
Long before it's time for hospice care, many people with serious illness can benefit from palliative care but don’t realize it. Sometimes referred to as “comfort care,” palliative care is a specialized approach to the treatment of patients with a serious or life-threatening illness. Palliative care has helped Deadra Gladden get her life back through symptom management and support from Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, Marlton, N.J.
In May of 2014 Deadra, age 28, was in the hospital, feeling hopeless and in excruciating pain due to lupus, a disease she has been battling for over half her young life. Deadra's doctors told her family it was time to call hospice. But after consulting with a nurse from Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice, a palliative care team was brought in instead.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7429131-moments-of-life-by-hospice/
What makes a good death? Many people prefer not to think about death in their day-to-day lives. For most people, a good death means being physically comfortable, at peace in your own home, enjoying as many moments as possible with loved ones doing the things you love to do up until the very end. A good death is possible with hospice care.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7429131-moments-of-life-by-hospice/
While the loss of a loved one is difficult for everyone, a child's limited ability to understand death can make grieving more difficult than it is for an adult. According to a recent national poll, 75 percent of children and teenagers under the age of 18 who have recently experienced a loss feel sad, anger, alone, overwhelmed and worried without really understanding why (ChildrenGrieve.org).
To better assist children through this difficult process, hospices offer grief and bereavement services specifically tailored for them. These services can help children realize grief is normal. Resources include individual or family counseling and referral information if another form of attention is needed. Even if the child's loved one was not in hospice care, he or she can take advantage of these services.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7429131-moments-of-life-by-hospice/
When a serious illness enters a family's life, there are many questions to ask and decisions to make. It is important to answer these questions quickly. The process can seem overwhelming. However, hospice care can be a wonderful resource for information about symptom management and comfort care. Hospice care professionals are available to help assess goals, pain management and care options during the decision-making process.
Are your symptoms minimal or moderate? Are these symptoms just starting to affect your life? If you want to continue treatment but also need comfort and symptom management, palliative care (often called comfort care) maybe an option. Palliative care is patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating suffering. Palliative care specialists address the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and families, making sure they have access to all the information about the disease progression and the choices ahead. A patient can receive palliative care in conjunction with other treatments or therapies.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7429131-moments-of-life-by-hospice/
One of the most difficult realizations for those with loved ones fighting a serious illness is understanding that treatment is no longer working. No one wants to admit that it has become a losing battle against a serious illness. Many people are hesitant to call hospice for a loved one because they see it as “giving up.” In reality, contacting hospice is a choice that can lead to fewer worries and more meaningful moments during a serious illness or near the end of life.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7429131-moments-of-life-by-hospice/
The vast majority of Americans say what they want at the end of life is to die in their own homes, as comfortable and pain-free as possible. The hospice philosophy is about making sure that a patient's death experience reflects their wishes by supporting one's life to the fullest dignity, regardless how much time remains. In fact, in many cases patients' quality of life can actually improve when they are admitted to hospice at the appropriate time.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7429131-moments-of-life-by-hospice/
