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Shanna ParrishTaylor
Shanna Parrish-Taylor is the Director of Nursing at Vintage Place Assisted Living. She is a RN with 9 years long term care experience, experience in critical care as well as hospice setting. Shanna is currently working on her master’s degree towards obtaining her ANRP. For more information on Shanna or Vintage Place please call 620-231-4554.
Senior Living
2012-01-26 16:41:48
Hospice care
Q: Can you tell me about hospice care? We have a family member that is quite ill, who has for some time lived in an assisted living facility. We are considering the options of moving him in with us, but he considers the assisted living home. We definitely need support, but are unsure of what options are available in hospice care, or what it is exactly.
A: Hospice care is end of life care. Patients receive comfort care, such as medications to ease pain, but (in most cases) do not receive aggressive therapies to combat diseases such as cancer. Hospice patients are expected to live six moths or less, although care continues, should the patient live longer and continue to decline? Getting to the point of needing hospice care for a loved one involves many emotions. It also involves many choices to make the remaining days comfortable and filled with love. One of those choices is where the patient will reside while receiving care. Hospice care can take place in the home, at a hospice center, or in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Some facilities have different levels of care or have developed a special relationship with facilities providing the necessary care, such as in an assisted living and hospice facility relationship. In this situation, the needed support system is already in place or readily available. While many people are reluctant to consider hospice care at first, studies show that most wish they had considered adding that element of support sooner. Not only does hospice care provide support for the patient, they also provide support for the family in coping with end of life issues and in helping set goals to make the remaining days fulfilling. In your situation, those involved in providing care can help in meeting his needs and help you sort out your options in whether bringing him into your home is the best option, or if there are others to be considered. The most important things to remember is that you do not have to manage this alone, and with support, you can make these days rich and full.
 
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