In-Home Hospice Care
Hospice care evolved in the United States with the intention to provide comprehensive services to patients who, if their illness progresses as expected, have a limited life expectancy.
While patients are individuals, not statistics, it is optimal to provide care in the patients home as early as possible. This allows us to get to know the patient and caregivers so we can best provide for their comfort.
This care is usually the patients own residence, whether the patient is living in their own home, in a family members home, or in a nursing care facility
Routine Home Care
The basic level of care under the hospice benefit. If a patient resides in a nursing home, it can also be called routine nursing home care. It includes nursing services, physician participation, medical social services, home health aide services, conseling, and volunteer services.
Continuous Care
If a patient develops physical or emotional symptoms that aren’t easily managed with routine care, continuous care may be an option. Continuous care provides more intense care in the patient’s home environment. All services under home care are provided along with a LPN who provides care for the patient around-the clock, with daily oversight by a registered nurse. The usual length of stay may range from 8 up to 24 hours per day to administer medications, treatments, and support until a patient’s symptoms are under control.
Some examples of symptoms requiring continuous care would be unrelieved pain, severe nausea and vomiting, severe shortness of breath, anxiety or a breakdown in the primary caregiver support system. Continuous care is considered a temporary short-term level of care and is reevaluated every 24 hours.
Respite Care
Agape Hospice Care is contracted with several facilites to provide care for a patient while the family has a respite period. This is a temporary level of care that can be scheduled by the social worker.
