subject: Hospice Services, The Positive Alternative [print this page] What are hospice services? What are hospice services?
Hospice is the concept of catering to the needs of those whose life span is expected to be 6 months or less. It is a concept that goes back to the time of the Crusades in the 14th century. Religious orders during that period, however, stopped its growth. Modern hospices came to be during the 1960s, starting in Great Britain. From there, the practice grew and spread to the United States, and the regions of Europe and Asia.
Once all efforts to cure the patient of his/her disease gets exhausted, hospice care is recommended. The practice is palliative in nature. Palliative is the field of medical care that concentrates not on treating, but in preventing and decreasing the suffering of a patient. This sort of care permits the individual to live his or her last days with dignity.
Why and when should we consider hospice?
The thought of being told you have an incurable disease is a tough pill to swallow. For the patient, it's an overwhelming experience that is tough to cope with. There is so much uncertainty that comes with knowing you only have a limited amount of time left. Although some are set on treatment in the hopes of curing their ailment, most cases don't end so well. In some cases, continued curative treatment only makes the body weaker.
Hospice services should be considered when a doctor diagnoses inevitability. This means that a doctor has predicted a certain timeframe left for the patient. Listening to news like this will, undoubtedly, stir up emotions of fear and sometimes even anger. When you start entertaining the concept of hospice care, bear in mind it isn't proof of hopelessness. Think that by making the choice, patients aren't quitting. Rather, they are taking control by choosing what to do with the remainder of their lives.
Where is hospice care provided?
In most cases, patients choose in home hospice care. Most services provide this option with the understanding that patients would rather be in the privacy of their own homes. If in home hospice care proves to be too strenuous, options such as inns along with other facilities may be available as well.
So what can I expect with this service?
For starters, you could expect counseling and guidance through you and your loved ones' hardship. Professionals will help the individual and his/her loved ones fully grasp and cope with the issues at hand. Nobody knows the pain endured by somebody that knows his or her end isn't too far off. Patients often find themselves dealing with so many previously unrealized worries, and that's something the treatment method accommodates.
In addition to helping reduce all emotional and mental distress, the practice also stresses the spiritual needs of a person. Patients can expect that through this palliative treatment plan, whatever spiritual issues they have will be attended to. Going through grief and bereavement also come later.
While hospice services might sound like a great option from the get go, be sure you talk about the topic carefully. Be sure that the individual is mentally prepared to avoid misunderstandings during an already difficult experience.
