Hospice Care Case Study

Hospice bereavement programs focus on different aspects for family members. One is in helping family members to understand and move forward in the grief process. In order to do this, they must express their inner thoughts and feelings, but also, one must help them in identifying or developing and utilizing healthy coping strategies. This leads families into using this program to help them solve the problem and adjust towards the loss of their loved one. Also, it is essential to give guidance and assist these family members in decisions relative to the loss. Another factor that should be addressed is cultural and spiritual concerns because it is an important value in most people’s lives. In understanding the family member’s spiritual and cultural

Neilsen, Neergard, Jensen, Bro & Guldin’s study Psychological distress, health, and socio-economic factors in caregivers of terminally ill patients: a nationwide population based cohort study (2016) is a population-based study based in the nation of Denmark. Their study focused on specific information gathered from the Danish healthcare system and their research used the information gathered about those tasked with supporting the terminally ill patient. The information they found was used to determine specific factors of stress and grief that can afflict the

Death is inevitable. It is one of the only certainties in life. Regardless, people are often uncomfortable discussing death. Nyatanga (2016) posits that the idea of no longer existing increases anxiety and emotional distress in relation to one’s mortality. Because of the difficulty in level of care for end-of-life patients, the patient and the family often need professional assistance for physical and emotional care. Many family caregivers are not professionally trained in medicine, and this is where hospice comes into play. Hospice aims to meet the holistic needs of both the patient and the patient’s family through treatment plans, education, and advocacy. There is a duality of care to the treatment provided by hospice staff in that they do not attempt to separate the patient’s care from the family’s care. Leming and Dickinson (2011) support that hospice, unlike other clinical fields, focuses on the patient and the family together instead of seeing the patient independent of the family. Many times in hospitals, the medical team focuses solely on the goal of returning the patient back to health in order for them to return to their normal lives. They do not take into account the psychological and spiritual components of the patient’s journey and the journey that the family must take as well. For treatment of the patient, Leming and Dickinson agree that hospice does not attempt to cure patients, and instead concentrates solely

Hospice is a philosophy of care. It treats the person rather than the disease and focuses on quality of life. It surrounds the patient and family with a team consisting of professionals who not only address physical distress, but emotional and spiritual issues as well. Hospice care is patient-centered because the needs of the patient and family drive the activities of the hospice team.

The doctors were pretty sure that Pierre had less than 6 months to live, so he fell well within the guidelines for hospice coverage. Should hospice coverage be limited to those with 6 months or less to live, or should other be covered? 6 months is a random figure and I think that the covering other could help families deal with hospice care a little better; it would give them a better understanding of what hospice-type services is entailed. It also could be too expensive for covering others and how can you know for sure if 6 months is suitable.

Nurses are a respected part of our community. They’re trained and educated to help heal, teach, and offer supportive care. Nurses can specialize in different areas, one would be the hospice field. Hospice patients typically have six months or less to live. Hospice will normally be provided in the patient’s home; however, the patient may also receive hospice care in the hospital, nursing care facility, or a family member’s home (“Home Health Care And Hospice Nursing”). According to Lauren Douglas, RN, while providing care in the home, the nurse must come prepared, and be expected to professionally and efficiently give outstanding care (Douglas). Hospice nurses often provide, teach, and monitor wound care, provide blood draws, as well as administer, and organize medications. Some hospice nurses will provide chemo-therapy and

MSW contacted Bambi earlier that day to clarify if they would allow the hospice team to care for the patient while on long term at Lake Hills. Bambi verbalized the Pt would be allowed the needed hospice care while admitted. Bambie stated she and her team will discuss the patient's case and will have an answer regarding patient being accepted or not. MSW met with Pt and both daughters to discuss about the status regarding the patient being transferred/admitted to Lake Hills Inn. MSW informed daughters that RN Jennifer received signed orders from physician, faxed order, med list, H&P, and type of insurance to Lake Hills Inn on 08/03/15. MSW contacted Bambi to check up on a update for an possible admission for the Pt. Bambi stated the referral has been denied because the

You have made excellent points. I do not believe that health care professionals neglect to treat patients in palliative care in the correct settings. The care one receives is based on what type of locations they are in. Hospitals and hospice centers often have employees with higher education levels and an increased passion for their job. I believe that health care providers want to ensure that one is comfortable at the end of life. I have visited Alive Hospice here in Nashville and was able to see the the great amount of care they provided to their patients. I have attached a link to their website below. I am curious to know your opinion on why you think one would not receive adequate care at the end-of-life phase.

The United States needs to provide more hospice care awareness. Hospice care provides services for individuals who have six months or less to live. They are able to enjoy the end of their lives rather than using physician assisted suicide.

About 90% of hospice services are delivered in the patient's home. Respite for the caregiver is provided and patients can be placed up for medication and symptom management. Patients that are able to visit relatives out of town and still be covered under what the program call "courtesy coverage". Patients are also assigned to hospice programs depending on their illness, the type of cancer, and any other chronic conditions and they provide treatments needed (Byrock, 1998).

When a patient is given a short amount of time expectant to live, they are referred to hospice. Hospice services provide the best possible quality of life. Hospice services include physician services, skilled nursing visits, on call, and around the clock during crisis periods, medical social workers, certified nurse’s aide, home health aide/ homemaker, trained volunteers, medication, equipment, and medical supply, short term inpatient care, bereavement counseling, and pastoral care.

The victim was admitted to Santuary Hospice on 09/16/15 with bruises on his body. The victim's told the reporter he bruises easily with touch, but the hospital Mr. Parker transferred from told the reporter, Mrs. Parker admitted to hitting the victim whenever he's difficult. The reporter stated a report was made to DHS 2-3 weeks ago by someone at the

My experience as a social work student at Seasons Hospice has been very interesting. It started off a little bumpy but soon progressed into an everlasting life experience and opportunity. My thought process from when I entered into seasons and now exiting Seasons if tremendously different from what I was expecting.

According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in 2013, 1.5 to 1.6 million individuals were in hospice or palliative care services. Also, hospice and palliative care services are most widely used by individuals 65 and older or adults with cancer being their primary diagnosis (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 2014. power point 1-18).

Hospice nursing aims to “work holistically with clients and families to maximize quality of life rather than focus on the quantity of life remaining (Cherry & Jacob, 2014, p. 469).” Quality of life and the nurse’s role in providing it to a dying patient has evolved over time. A growing geriatric population, limited facility choices, and increased awareness make hospice care an increasingly popular choice among the terminally ill.