Rexburg Hospice Care

About Hospice

Hospice care is a philosophy of care that focuses on the whole patient and family. It focuses on symptom management rather than cure. Hospice staff focuses on comfort, pain relief, communication, spiritual needs, and grief rather than medical aspects of illness.

Hospice care provides inpatient care and at-home support to patients and their families looking for non-curative treatments. At the same time, while not curative, many patients report that they can enjoy life moments more fully with hospice support. Many research studies have shown that using an interdisciplinary approach augments the quality of life by promoting independence and a sense of control and also reduces anxiety and suffering.

Many patients who have a life expectancy of a few months or less can enjoy that time more comfortably for weeks or even months with the help of hospice care. Whether you are considering hospice services for yourself or a loved one, it’s essential to understand what is involved in each step of this unique approach.

Initiating Rexburg Hospice Care

Hospice care can be initiated when a patient has an incurable illness expected to result in death within six months if left untreated. In some cases, your medical insurance will cover hospice care even if death isn’t expected soon, as long as curative treatments are no longer used. The physician must certify that they have discussed hospice care options with the patient.

At Solace Hospice in Rexburg we offer a free consultation to see if you qualify and if hospice feels like the right step for you or a loved one.

Hospice Care Plan

Hospice care is most effective when designed around an individual’s goals for themselves and their family. The focus of care is personal choices, comfort, independence, and quality of life. It is not always easy to know what you want beforehand. 

 

Some questions that might help clarify your thoughts are: 

  • What information do I need? 
  • What are my concerns? 
  • How will hospice care work with the rest of my health care team? 
  • Have I talked to my family about how they feel in regards to the future? 

Once you have decided on a plan of action, always make sure your wishes are communicated clearly to your physicians, nurses, and social workers so they can honor them in the future. At Solace Hospice our goal is to honor your wishes to the best of our ability through an individualized care plan with appropriately trained staff. 

Requesting Services

To request hospice care, the patient or family must call their physician to state what services are needed. The doctor will then contact the local hospice service and ask them to provide a nurse visit which is usually the initial step in receiving hospice care. This meeting with a registered nurse can explain what services are available, how much they cost, eligibility requirements, and answer any questions you may have regarding this type of care. At that time, an interdisciplinary team consisting of physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, and home health aides would be assembled based on the patient’s needs and assessment.

Hospice services are available seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, to provide care for patients in the comfort of their home or an alternative location chosen by them. Solace Hospice also helps families locate support groups and community resources should they need additional assistance.

End of Life Care Advantages

For many hospice patients, the goal is comfort rather than cure, leading to less aggressive treatments near the end of life. Families often report that this type of care allows the patient to die at home surrounded by loved ones compared with traditional hospitals, where death can be more difficult due to medical equipment, noise, stress, visitor limitations and lack of privacy. The hospice benefity may make family members feel more at ease about death since it occurs in a familiar location rather than an institution. It gives the family time to prepare and say goodbyes. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t any medical treatments offered during the last days of life. Hospice care seeks to find the balance between not prolonging life, and offering enough treatment to avoid unnecessary discomfort. 

Solace Hospice can make it possible for patients to live life fully until their final moments. 

Common diagnosis that lead to hospice care include: 

  • Widespread cancer
  • Complete organ failure
  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Renal disease

If you feel like this method of end-of-life services would be beneficial to your family, don’t wait to begin the process of receiving them. Contact Solace Hospice in Rexburg today. 

Choosing Rexburg Hospice Care

If you or a loved one has a life-limiting illness and would like to receive hospice care, contact your doctor, Solace Hospice in Rexburg, or various social service organizations in your area. We value our mission to improve quality of life through compassionate care.