Articles
Hospice care: Comforting the terminally ill
Content
What is hospice care?
Who can benefit from hospice care?
Where is hospice care provided?
Who's involved in hospice care?
How is hospice care financed?
How do I select a hospice program?
Who's involved in hospice care?
If you're not receiving hospice care at a dedicated facility, hospice staff will make regular visits to your home or other setting. Hospice staff is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A hospice care team typically includes:
- Doctors. A primary care doctor and a hospice doctor or medical director will oversee care. Each patient gets to choose a primary doctor. This can be your prior doctor or a hospice doctor.
- Nurses. Nurses will come to your or your relative's home or other setting to provide care. They are also responsible for coordination of the hospice care team.
- Home health aides. Home health aides can provide extra support for routine care, such as dressing, bathing and eating.
- Spiritual counselors. Chaplains, priests, lay ministers or other spiritual counselors can provide spiritual care and guidance for the entire family.
- Social workers. Social workers provide counseling and support. They can also provide referrals to other support systems.
- Pharmacists. Pharmacists provide medication oversight and suggestions regarding the most effective ways to relieve symptoms.
- Volunteers. Trained volunteers offer a variety of services, including providing company or respite for caregivers and helping with transportation or other practical needs.
- Other professionals. Speech, physical and occupational therapists can provide therapy, if needed.
- Bereavement counselors. Trained bereavement counselors offer support and guidance after the death of a loved one in hospice.