Hospice Care for the Whole Patient

When a loved one is suffering, hospice care can provide end-of-life support and help patients feel as comfortable as possible as they battle their disease. Senior Living Options of the Desert is committed to providing referrals to the best care for both patients and families during difficult times. The experienced, compassionate and professional staff at Senior Living Options of the Desert can refer patients to the care they need during the final stages of a terminal illness.

The philosophy of hospice care is to allow patients to live with as little pain as possible in their last days. With the help of caregivers and physicians, each patient benefits from a comprehensive care plan that addresses their needs. The goal of a care plan is not to cure the body of disease or postpone death, but instead to let patients live the rest of their lives in peace and comfort. Symptoms are managed as well as possible so patients can spend their time enjoying the company of friends and family with dignity and awareness.

Hospice care is possible thanks to a wide range of staff members and volunteers that are committed to caring for patients and their families. Physicians and nurses provide pain-management treatments that can help patients cope with their symptoms. Health aides can provide support for routine activities like bathing, eating and dressing. Social workers, spiritual counselors and bereavement counselors offer support for both the patient and family members. Volunteers are often available to help arrange practical needs like transportation. All of these individuals are dedicated to providing the best care for your loved one and family.

Hospice care helps families just as much as patients. Family members often feel helpless, hopeless and anxious when they place a loved one in hospice care. They worry about how much their loved one is suffering and how comfortable they will feel as they reach the end of life. They may also not be sure how to act around their loved one. Hospice care helps take some of these worries away. Families are an integral part of the entire process. They are consulted every step of the way, from designing a care plan to making important decisions regarding end-of-life procedures.

Families also benefit from counseling that can help guide them through the grieving process. Bereavement can start even before a loved one passes away, and trained counselors are available to help families cope with their feelings of loss and grief. By learning how to deal with these feelings, families are able to enjoy the time they do have with their loved one even more.

Senior Living Options of the Desert can refer families and patients to hospice care that takes care of the whole body, mind and spirit. For more information about hospice care, please contact one of our experienced and compassionate family advisors at 1-888-700-4322.