Professionals at ‌Los Angeles hospice‌ ‌care‌ ‌provide beneficial service to individuals with terminal illnesses who are not expected to live more than six months. Getting this type of diagnosis can be very distressing, and the process of starting hospice is intended to be as uncomplicated on patients and their families as possible. 

The first day in hospice‌ ‌care‌ ‌in Los‌ ‌Angeles‌ ‌is usually more hectic than most since it concerns signing paperwork and setting everything up to offer the patient the most comfortable experience possible. 

Typically, a registered nurse will meet you and your loved one to evaluate the situation and deal with the admittance process. This may be a regular team nurse, a dedicated admission nurse, or an after-hours nurse. Once through the admittance process, your loved one will get another visit from the registered nurse, who will probably be visiting them each week. 

Within the first days ‌‌at hospice‌ ‌care‌ ‌Los Angeles, a thorough physical assessment is carried out‌, and the hospice team gives suggestions to the patient and their family related to their daily care and comfort. Also, ‌‌a hospice‌ team ‌in‌ ‌Los Angeles will set up a schedule for visits that is suitable for everyone and let you know how you can get in touch when more assistance is required. 

In the initial days in hospice care, a complete physical assessment is carried out, and the hospice team provides recommendations to the patient and their family involving their daily care and comfort. Also, they will set up a schedule for visits that is suitable for everyone and let you know how you can get in touch when more help is needed.

Acquiring Medications And Supplies

The nursing staff at hospice‌ ‌care‌ Los Angeles ‌will take the time to place orders for any medications and medical equipment the patient requires and send this to their home very swiftly. This could consist of wheelchairs, hospital beds, and anything else that is directly related to your loved one’s terminal illness. Hospice is fully covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and most types of insurance, which means that patients and their families don’t have to worry about the costs of the supplies, equipment, and medication that their loved one requires.

Simultaneously as this is happening, the hospice care team will go through the medication your loved one is presently taking and recommend any changes that may require to tackle any unmanaged symptoms. Specifically, hospice care concentrates on the quality of life, which means that there is an emphasis on reducing pain, and this may depend on taking medication and adjusting other medications as required to refrain from any conflicts and interactions. Also, the team may suggest stopping specific medications that were first prescribed to give your loved one a long-term advantage but are no longer needed because of their shortened life expectancy. 

Who Are The Hospice Care Team

The initial days in hospice also involve visits from hospice care team members, who will introduce themselves to the patient and ascertain that they have everything they require. Some of the people who might visit are the following:

Nurses

Nurses manage the patient’s medical care in combination with hospice doctors and the patient’s own physician. They manage medications and make sure the patient has an adequate supply of needed medications nearby to keep them comfortable until their next visit. Also, they may draw blood or attend to any new symptoms the patient is having.

Aides

A hospice aide is a certified nursing assistant who provides personal care to a patient. Additionally, they may take care of activities such as bathing, dressing, and oral care to help to ease the burden on family caregivers.

Volunteers

A volunteer can assist with errands or tasks such as light cooking and housekeeping, or they may participate in activities with your loved ones such as reading, chatting, or making scrapbooks. Besides providing companionship and emotional support to both the patient and their family, they can also offer the caregiver relief, allowing you to look after your own personal matters knowing that your loved one is not alone.

Social Workers

A hospice social worker offers patients and their families emotional and psychosocial support. They help to organize the logistics of your loved one’s care, work with organizations such as the Veterans Administration or your insurance company, and help handle finances, funeral planning, and other tasks as required.

Chaplains

Hospice chaplains are there for all patients to address the spiritual issues that may crop up as death comes closer, no matter the person’s religious beliefs or traditions. The chaplain supports the patient and the family and does it to respect their cultural traditions and values. Also, they may work with a patient’s own clergy if asked to.

Bereavement Coordinators

Bereavement specialists are ready, willing, and able to address anticipatory grief as well as the grief that arises with the loss of a loved one. Bereavement is provided by the hospice to families for up to 13 months after their loved one has passed away and includes one-on-one visits, support groups, grief education, and consistent contact as required.

Therapists

Patients may get physical therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy to the degree that it adds to their safety and quality of life. Some of these team members may regularly visit, while others might not be required as often. This is usually tailor-made for the person.

Moreover, many hospices provide 24-hour telephone access to hospice clinicians to answer any questions that may arise and provide support to caregivers over the phone. Also, they can dispatch team members to a patient’s bedside as required. In the first days in hospice, your team will let you know how to use this service.

Contact Faith & Hope Hospice and Palliative Care Team

If you want to learn more about the hospice process or have any questions about how it works, get in touch with the friendly and professional team at Faith & Hope Hospice and Palliative Care serving Los Angeles today.