Hospice - A Theory of Care

HOSPICE CARE

HOSPICE – A Theory of Care

Hospice is not a physical place, but rather a theory of care. It is a shift in one’s focus, when a cure is no longer an option, to quality of life and symptom management.

It is care on your terms at the location that is most comfortable for you. Hospice is a patient-centered approach with a team that focuses on the patient’s physical, emotional and spiritual health, while supporting the emotional and spiritual needs of those you love. Hospice care does not extend or shorten life expectancy, it only strives to improve the quality of time that remains.

Approximately 90% of hospice patients are cared for in their homes, surrounded by the people, pets and things they love. When a patient enters hospice care, they are assigned an interdisciplinary care team of physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, spiritual care chaplains, certified nursing assistants and volunteers to aid and assist in their care. Patients and families are helped through the difficult time and are made comfortable interacting with care team members they know and trust.

While many hospice patients choose to receive care in their own homes, others find comfort at a hospice inpatient care centers. Individual patient room have climate controls, telephone, internet access, a private bathroom, a television and a sleep sofa to accommodate family members. Hospice patients receive loving, personalized care from a highly skilled interdisciplinary team of professionals who provide care 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The goal of inpatient care centers, whenever possible, is to help the patients return home once symptoms are managed and under control.

At Halifax Health – Continuing Care we have provided the highest level of hospice care to over 60,000 individuals over the course of 40 years. As the top rated and most recommended hospice in Central Florida, you can trust us to provide extraordinary, compassionate and professional end of life care for you and your loved ones. ~

Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by Kathy Garcia-Masse., the Director of Clinical Operations with Halifax Health - Hospice and may be reached at 386-425-3155 or by email at kathy.garcia-masse@halifax.org. See ad on page 107.