Home health care for terminally ill patients can be managed through use of Hospice services. Both cancer and AIDS patient can have a good death.
Hospice services are available for terminally ill patients in many communities. Often staffed with volunteers, services may be available on a free or sliding scale basis. HMOS, such as Kaiser, may provide home health care similar to Hospice in your area.
Hospice is a multi-disciplinary team approach for patients considered terminally ill. Requirements may include a signed doctor's statement that the patient has six months or less to live. Care will be managed under the leadership of a social worker or Registered Nurse. Team members include nurses, home health aides and respite care workers, and at least one social worker, MD and pharmacist.
The goal of Hospice care is a good death. A good death is one in which the patient dies in familiar surroundings, if possible, and in a way that manages the dying patient's two greatest fears.
These fears are 1)fear of a painful death, and 2) fear of dying alone. Through the pharmacist and MD, as administered by nurses, and sometimes family members, proper pain medication is provided, without traditional fears of addiction, and over medication.
The patient is in the presence of family and friends, and team members provide much needed respite and ventilation of concerns for home care providers. The team members themselves partake of weekly planning meetings, and a chance to share experiences and frustrations in each Case.
If it is necessary to return to the hospital, Hospice works closely with various health care settings, to provide additional emotional and spiritual support.
Grief and loss groups are provided prior to, and up to two years after death of loved ones. In a mediated setting, friends and family have a chance to grieve and share experiences as they work their way back to optimal functioning.
Many consider Hospice a Godsend; its care providers as Angels of Mercy. Sometimes when things seem most overwhelming, a few hours of respite care-a chance to get out of the home and away from the sickroom-make all the difference in the world!
As there is no pretending that death isn't eminent, Hospice workers are fully trained to allow the dying a chance to talk about subjects family or friends may find too gruesome or unsettling to discuss. The dying need to have outlets for frank dicussions and explorations of the process of dying. A process that is part of living, not apart from it.
Hospices work with clergy, and also provides a source of chaplain care should the patient/family desire this service. Select members are available by pager, and will come in short notice if the demise approaches. Emotional, spiritual and physical support eases the transition for loved ones and terminally ill patients.
