Hospice Care Definitions

The Retreat at Saad Hospice, Rest for the Journey Home.

Saad Hospice offers hospice services both in the home and at our state of the art inpatient facility. Our agency has been family owned and operated for over 50 years, founded by veterans, and dedicated to upholding the highest standard of care possible.

Contact us by phone (251) 380-3810 or by email at: info@saadhealthcare.com

1515 University Blvd Mobile AL, 36609 www.saadhealthcare.com/hospice "A family tradition of caring for over 50 years"

HOSPICE Hospices provide individuals facing terminal illness with care at home or in a healthcare facility. The goal is to assist patients to live the last stage of their lives with dignity. The focus is on comfort rather than treatment.

Services Provided:

SW-SOCIAL WORKER – Assesses patient and family emotional and social needs, develops a plan of care, provides counseling, referrals and support to meet identified needs HOME HEALTH AIDE – Provides direct personal care to patient, emotional support to patient and family, reports identified needs to RN.

Levels of Care:

RO-ROUTINE CARE – Occurs when regularly scheduled visits are adequate in maintaining the individual’s symptom management. Care is provided at the individual’s private residence, a retirement community, an assisted living, or a skilled nursing facility. RE-RESPITE CARE – Provided when the family needs time to rest or go out of town for a short time. Care may be provided in a long-term care facility depending on the condition of the individual. Hospice is responsible for financial arrangements with the Long-term care facility.

Su T JOSEPH

HOSPICE

GIP – General In-Patient Care – Provided in a skilled nursing facility when the symptoms cannot be managed elsewhere. The skilled nursing facility must have 24-hour R.N. coverage as deemed by Medicare guidelines. General in-patient care is usually short in duration. This level of care is usually due to symptoms which are out of control and more intensive nursing services are required. If an individual is at a care facility, room and board are covered by hospice during this period. CC-CONTINUOUS CARE – Provided to prevent the individual from going to the hospital when a crisis occurs. It also is given when more help is needed to assist the individual and family in coping with the crisis. This level of care is usually provided at the individual’s residence no matter where that may be. The criteria for continuous care may include: Severe pain or symptoms which are out of control, psychotic episodes, breakdown of caregiver, imminent death and family unable to cope. Continuous care is typically reserved for end of life or other crises that requires a constant presence by a nurse or care team.

24/7 ADMISSIONS – If a patient qualifies for hospice care, they should be admitted as early as the family requests. Many agencies admit patients to hospice,24/7, evenings weekends, and holidays.

HOSPICE CARE

Hospice Care Definitions

continued

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS – Grief is the normal and universal reaction humans have to the loss of those they love. When your loved one passes, you may go through a period of bereavement and experience grief. Many provide Grief Groups that meet and address issues of grief in a supportive group setting.

IN-PATIENT CARE – These hospices offer full hospice services in their on-campus unit or building. The patient moves into the inpatient care facility to receive their hospice services rather than in the patients’ home setting.

PAIN PUMPS AVAILABLE – Many patients have their symptoms controlled through oral medications. Some situations require a pain pump where medications are administered through an IV pump. If this is the situation, inquire with the hospice RN case manager to see if pain pumps are available through their agency.

PALLIATIVE CARE – Specialized medical care for people with serious illness. It is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness – whatever the prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment. PCP-OVERSIGHT – Can the hospice patient retain their own primary care physician in addition to the hospice medical director? All hospice organizations require a medical director, a physician to oversee their care. Many times the hospice medical director will work in conjunction with the patient’s own physician. The patient, family and hospice team can determine which physicians will oversee the care and certify the hospice eligibility criteria.

PET THERAPY – There’s nothing like a visit from a four-legged creature to brighten the day of a terminally ill patient. Pet therapy teams visit with patients wherever they reside – at home or in professional care settings. Studies have shown many benefits of pet companionship, ranging from reduced blood pressure and anxiety to relief from boredom, pain and loneliness. This service is not reimbursed by Medicare.

VA CONTRACT – If the patient is not a Medicare Recipient and is covered by the VA, the VA will make payments directly to their contracted agencies. If a patient is a Veteran, but is a Medicare Recipient, they may choose any Medicare approved hospice agency for their care. ~