Hospice care is beneficial for nursing or assisted living facility residents that have any progressive illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice care can ease the activities of daily living for residents such as eating, using the restroom, walking, bathing or dressing – resulting in better quality of life.
Once admitted, Hospice of Northwest Ohio staff will work with the resident, resident’s family and facility staff to determine goals of care and will develop and oversee the resident’s plan of care.
Hospice Care for the Resident and Family includes:
- Comprehensive medical and nursing care
- Expert pain and symptom management
- 24-hour on-call availability of a hospice nurse
- Symptom management
- Hospice Aide services to assist with activities of daily living and enhance quality of life
- Drugs, medical supplies and equipment related to the terminal illness
- Education for families on the care of their loved ones and what to expect as they decline
- Emotional and spiritual support for the resident and family
- Companionship from trained Hospice volunteers
- Massage therapy and art and music enrichment
- Bereavement support
The resident can stay in the facility, where they call home, while under Hospice care. Hospice staff will visit the resident in his/her room and communicate treatments and condition changes to the facility staff and to the resident’s family. This provides additional support for the resident and the facility staff.
Through open and ongoing communication, the Hospice and facility teams will collaborate to ensure the best end-of-life experience for the resident and family.