Chealsea here, with Solutions for seniors podcast.

before we get started I would like to thank Home Helpers of Bourbonnais for sponsoring Solutions for Seniors podcast. If you or your loved one are in the Kankakee or will county area call home helpers at 815-401-5527 for all your home care needs, you can also visit their website homehelpershomecare.com/Kankakee

I’m going to explain in a little depth what hospice is and what it mean to have a loved one on hospice care.Hospice is a specialized care that focuses on providing patients with terminal illness comfort and dignity as their disease takes its course. Once our loved one is placed under the care of hospice this means that treatment will no longer be focused on curing the disease but providing comfort through the disease. Many families feel as they are giving up on their loved one when they do call hospice, but that is not the case at all. While it is easy to think that, understanding all of the services that hospice provides not only to the patient, their families and the disease process itself can provide new perspective on hospice care. There are many positive reasons why accepting hospice is a positive thing for our loved ones, ourselves and our families. In some cases continuing treatment for a terminal illness can be stressful and very uncomfortable. Hospice will ensure a more comfortable path to the diseases eventual conclusion. A study Published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (March 2007) - said they believe in some cases, that the reduction of strain and stress can actually give patients more time. Hospice can provide resources and extra help to the family, allowing us to better use the time we have with our loved one and reduce some financial burdens of care.Hospice programs are focused on dignity in death, meaning that the last memories of our loved one can be much happier and peaceful. Although the concept of hospice care has been around for centuries, it is still an area of medical practice that many people today aren’t aware of. Hospice provides comfort and support during the final stages of one’s life. It does more than just meet the physical needs of patients. In many cases, patients require more than just physical comfort. It may be that the patient has spiritual or psychosocial needs that could be fulfilled before their passing. Hospice offers many resources and programs to meet these needs and ensure the patient has dignity and is at peace at the end of their journey.

Here are 5 common hospice questions and answers to them:

What is the purpose of hospice?

Hospice is a change of focus from curative treatments to a different set of goals – new goals are comfort and quality of life.

Does insurance cover hospice costs?

Hospice is funded by Medicare, Medicaid and also by most individual insurers.

How does hospice care start?When a physician makes a prognosis that a patient has six months or less to live they may place an order for hospice care. At this point, a hospice provider can be contacted to start the hospice admission process.

Will hospice make my loved one die sooner?
The goal of hospice is to provide comfort as the natural process of dying takes its course.

Does a patient have to go to a hospice facility in order to receive care?Hospice services can be provided at any number of locations, including most retirement and assisted living facilities.

After these 5 questions and answers I hope that you have a better understanding of hospice and how beneficial it can be to you and our loved ones. November has been declared National Hospice and Palliative Care Month by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), a time to help build awareness of comfort-based care among those it may benefit.