OUR APPROACH
The pain and symptoms associated with life limiting illness can cause emotional distress for patients and their loved ones. We provide hospice care and other related services to assist patients and families dealing with these special moments.
THERAPIES WE PROVIDE
Physical Therapy
Patients are evaluated on their ability to safely move about. If problems exist like difficulty walking, getting in and out of bed, sitting and standing, etc., the physical therapist can assess the patient’s level of pain and develop a physical therapy regimen to help strengthen the patients body function and alleviate pain.
Occupational Therapy
Patients are evaluated on their ability to perform daily activities like bathing, getting dressed, feeding oneself and performing acts of hygiene. To help patients remain as independent as they wish to be, an occupational therapist can teach patients how to alter activities to make them simpler or can recommend a device or service to help perform activities.
Speech Therapy
Preserving a patients ability to voice their wants and needs is extremely important to their care. If a patient is experiencing difficulty speaking, communicating or swallowing food, a speech therapist can work with him or her to develop alternative ways to communicate. Additionally, alterations can be made regarding food preparation to make it easier for the patient to eat.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is offered in concert with a patient’s diagnosis and condition to provide relief from muscle tension, stiffness, muscle spasms and headaches with or without essential oils. Patients feel relaxed and at peace through the gentle, healing touch of our certified massage therapists and may choose to receive their massage with or without essential oils that help calm the senses.
Aroma & Aroma Touch Therapy
By diffusing soothing essential oil scents into the air using a diffuser or aroma pillow, or by applying essential oils directly onto the patients skin, patients can enjoy a refreshing, revitalizing and cheerful experience with our therapists.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOSPICE SERVICES
Routine Home Care
Majority of patients choose to remain at home during their comfort care. Routine home care includes a team of hospice nurses, medical personal care assistants, social workers, non-medical homemakers and others, devoted to helping patients maintain independence as they receive quality treatment for their life limiting illness wherever they may reside.
Respite Care
Often, a family member will choose to act as a patient’s primary caregiver. These individuals attend to the patient’s care around the clock and can struggle with isolation, depression and exhaustion. Respite care services provide volunteers who become trusted friends to take over responsibilities and allow the caretaker time away to “recharge.” Inpatient respite care is given in a Medicare-approved facility (like a hospice inpatient facility, hospital, or nursing home). Your hospice provider will arrange this for you. You can stay up to 5 days each time you get respite care. You can get respite care more than once, but it can only be provided on an occasional basis.
General Inpatient Care
When a patient’s symptoms become too severe to manage at home, it is recommended that they be admitted into general inpatient care. Here, a patient benefits from the assessment of an on-site team of medical professionals who will deliver a more aggressive schedule of treatments to reduce pain and symptoms, allowing the patient to return home once his or her condition has been regulated.
Continuous Care
If a patient develops physical or emotional symptoms that aren’t easily managed with routine care, continuous care may be an option. Continuous care provides more intense care in the patient’s home environment. A nurse and/or a home health aide will remain in the patient’s home environment for a minimum of 8 hours, and up to 24 hours, per day to administer medications, treatments, and support until the symptoms are under control. Some examples of symptoms requiring continuous care would be unrelieved pain, severe nausea and vomiting, severe shortness of breath, anxiety or panic attacks, or a breakdown in the primary caregiver support system. Continuous care is considered a short-term level of care and is reevaluated every 24 hours.