St. Mary's Hospice provides care to patients who have an illness or injury from which they may not recover. While we often think of cancer patients in hospice care it also includes end stage heart and lung patients, stroke victims, end stage Alzheimer patients and others. The focus of the care is on the patient and their family with a special emphasis on pain management and comfort.
Hospice care is a team approach that includes nursing, physicians, social work, spiritual care, pharmacy and a host of other medical professionals. Care may be provided in the patient's home, an assisted living setting, nursing home or hospital. If the patient moves from one location to another the team follows them and helps assure continuity of care.
Hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance and there is no charge to families for care provided by St Mary's Hospice.
Meeting the team members – the hospice nurse
The hospice nurse is usually the first team member that patients and their families meet. The nurse will explain the hospice program and help patients/ families complete the needed paperwork. The nurse is then responsible for doing a physical assessment of the patient, developing a plan of care and securing the medications, supplies and equipment that are needed. The nurse communicates information to the rest of the team members and arranges for additional visits from the social worker, home health aide, clergy and rehab services . The nurse also works very closely with the patient's physician and the hospital pharmacy staff. Together they develop a medication schedule that will keep the patient comfortable and be easy for the patient/family to administer.
Since the patient and their family is the focus of care, hospice nurses spend a great deal of time answering questions and providing instructions to increase the families comfort in doing physical care such as bathing, moving the patient from one place to another and giving medications. This is usually a first time experience for family members, they do a wonderful job caring for their loved ones and patients respond well to familiar voices and familiar touch – it is a great example of families caring for families.
Another important focus for the hospice nurse, and teammates, is to prepare the patient and family for the final days and weeks before the patient's death. Home care may be the desired choice in the early stages of the illness but as things progress it may be necessary for families to make changes in their plan. The nurse will often remind the patient and family that the plan that works today may not work tomorrow – and that's ok.
The hospice nurse will provide routine visits to the patient/family and are on call 24 hours a day. If a patient/family have a question, new symptoms develop, or the patient is nearing death the nurse will be available.
St Mary's Hospice currently has 6 RNs providing hospice and home healthcare. They are available to answer your questions about hospice at 224-3218.
Supporting Someone Who is Grieving
Grief is universal, most people have or will experience some form of loss in life. Often the loss is the death of a family member, friend, co-worker, or a pet. What is not universal about grief is how individuals deal with that grief and the type of support they need. Here are some general suggestions:
- Listen - Let them talk and be an active listener. Ask them questions about the person who has died and encourage them to express their feelings. Try to be comfortable with tears.
- Accept all Feelings - Do not pass judgment on how a person is dealing with and/or expressing their grief.
- Offer Hope - Tell them that you believe that they will get through this. Knowing that you believe will give them strength.
- Respect Individual Needs - Respect privacy and their right to not want to talk about the situation. These individuals may decline offers to discuss their feelings with you, do not push them into a conversation.
- Understand Different Cultural/Religious Preferences About Death - Many cultures, religions, and certain families have important rituals to perform when a person dies. Do not interfere or pass judgment on these rituals.
- Avoid Cliché's - Do not say “I know how you feel” or “Only the good die young”. Instead, offer words such as “I'm sorry for your loss”.
- Help the Person Ease Back Into Activities - Help the person regain interest in past activities once the person is ready. For example: “Would you like to go to the park and take a walk on Saturday?” Be understanding if they are still not ready when you ask.
- Remember to check on the person as time passes - Periodic check-ins can be helpful throughout the first two years after a loss.
Adapted from Caring Connections – submitted by St. Mary's Hospice