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Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) Comparison Grid
HOSPICE DEFINITIONS
HOSPICE - Hospices provide individuals facing terminal illness with care wherever they call home (in the home or in a healthcare community and/or long term care 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.
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.
Services Provided: RN : REGISTERED NURSE –
Assesses patient’s physical needs, develops and coordinates the plan of care, ensures symptom control and management, provides patient/ family teaching as needed SW: SOCIAL WORKER – Assesses patient and family emotional and social needs, develops a plan of care, provides counseling, referrals and support to meet identifi ed needs CHAPLAIN – Assesses patient and family spiritual needs, develops a plan of care, provides counseling, assists with memorial preparations. VOLUNTEER – Provides respite and needed non-medical services for patients and their families, off ers support at time of death and during bereavement.
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 fi nancial arrangements with the Long-term care facility.
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 RN 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 qualifi es 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.
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.
VITAS® Healthcare serves Collier County and has expanded its presence in Southwest Florida into Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties. To support patients with advanced illness and their families, VITAS offers hospice and palliative care to eligible patients in patients’ homes, assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, and inpatient units—wherever patients call home.
Personal Attention. Consider Hospice. Learn more at VITAS.com | 800.723.3233 | | Since 1980
