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When
do people need hospice services? |
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Generally,
a person needs hospice services when the physician believes that the
illness could result in death in about six months. But, this prognosis
is only a guess; no one really knows how long anyone will live. (back
to top) |
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What
happens if you don't die within 6 months? |
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Once admitted
to Sojourn Care, a patient can remain with us as long as the prognosis
remains the same. Our Medical Director, or the patient's personal attending
physician, assesses the patient's condition. If the doctor concludes
that the illness might still result in the patient's death within about
six months, the patient remains eligible for hospice services. (back
to top) |
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How
is hospice different from other care? |
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Clinical
Goal: When medical
science knows of no cure, the clinical goal shifts to managing the patient's
symptoms. Hospice concentrates on keeping patients comfortable instead
of on finding a cure. |
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Focus:
We recognize that profound illness affects everyone close to the patient.
Hospice focuses attention on both the patient and on the "family"
of individuals who are emotionally involved with the patient. Hospice
team members help families cope with the daily challenge of caring for
a sick or frail person, with the complex feelings that accompany grief
and with the life-style changes that illness can bring such as loss of
wages, medical benefits and transportation. |
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Interdisciplinary:
Hospice care is provided by a team that includes nurses, doctors, social
workers, counselors, pastors, home health aides and volunteers. Whether
the patient and family need help caring for a wound, assistance preparing
meals or are seeking prayer and spiritual support to face an unknown
future - the hospice team includes someone trained in the task at hand
(back to top). |
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How
does hospice work? |
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A physician
may recommend hospice, but only the patient, or the patient's representative,
may "elect" or choose hospice care.
The hospice team works
closely with the patient and the family to develop a Plan of Care for
services that focus on the patient's needs.
A Plan of Care may include: |
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Professional
nursing care |
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Personal
Care (bathing, dressing, meals) |
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Medications |
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Chaplains |
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Equipment
and supplies |
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Dietary
counseling |
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Social
workers |
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Physical,
speech and occupational therapies |
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Follow-up
care for families after a loss |
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Volunteers
(companions, errands, caregiver relief) |
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(back
to top) |
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Where
are the services provided? |
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Sojourn Care
takes care of people wherever they live: in their own homes; the homes
of friends; in assisted living apartments, group homes or nursing homes.
(back to top) |
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What
if a patient lives alone? |
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We do not
require our patients to have a full time caregiver in the home. In fact,
many live alone through choice or circumstance. We will work with the
patient to develop a Plan of Care that supports his or her needs while
still able to remain home alone. We will also work with the patient to
develop a plan for how his or her needs will be met, as additional help
is required. (back to top) |
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Does
a patient ever get too sick to stay at home? |
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Most symptoms
can be managed at home. Based on patient need, when specialized medical
support is required, Sojourn Care provides round-the-clock continuous
care where the patient lives. We also provide inpatient care in area
hospitals and in nursing homes that meet our staffing requirements. (back
to top) |
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What
are the hours of service? |
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Hospice care
is available 24 hours each day, 365 days a year. (back
to top) |
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What
if it just gets too hard for the family to look after the patient? |
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No family
is completely prepared for the challenge of caring for a sick family
member. Sometimes, even the most involved and generous family members
find the burden overwhelming. To support the family through periods of
stress, the hospice team may take a variety of steps including: |
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Adjustments
in the plan of care so that the scope and frequency of hospice visits
are increased. |
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The
addition of volunteers who can visit with the patient while family
members take personal time. |
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A
brief period of "respite care" in which the patient resides
in a nursing home or hospital so that the family can have a short
relief period. |
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Permanent
nursing home placement for the patient. Although hospice care is usually
a covered health insurance benefit, the nursing home "room and
board" is generally not covered by insurance plans. Patients
who choose to live in a nursing home, while receiving hospice care,
pay for the "room and board" out-of-pocket. |
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(back
to top) |
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Is hospice religiously affiliated? |
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Sojourn Care is not affiliated with or sponsored by any particular religion or place of worship. However, that does not mean that faith has no place in our work. We recognize that, for many people, spirituality and faith in a higher being becomes increasingly important toward the end of life. When it is important to a patient's life, it is important to ours-in fact, Medicare requires that we provide Spiritual Counseling as part of our covered services. The realization that death is much more than just a physical experience is at the heart and soul of what we do. To this end, we have a readily available staff of spiritual caregivers prepared to assist patients of any religion-or no religion at all-in facing this journey. Their job is to help people deal with the troubling issues and uncertainties that arise during the process of dying. "Where am I going?" "Am I a good person?" "Who will remember me?" "How will I be remembered?" These are important questions, questions that a spiritual counselor can help a patient and his or her family work through peacefully.
(back to top) |
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What
does hospice care cost? |
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Hospice is
a covered benefit under most insurance plans. For Medicare patients,
there are no out-of-pocket costs. Even the cost of related medications,
supplies and equipment is covered.
(back to top) |
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| Do you
have questions we didn't answer here? We
can be reached at the telephone number and email address listed below,
click here for further contact information
or click here to complete a form to send
us your question.
Feel free to contact
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization at www.nhpco.org
for more information, as well.
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