When an individual has a chronic illness and curative treatment is not an option, hospice care can provide medical, emotional, and spiritual support. Quantity of life may be limited, but end-of-life care can encourage and enhance quality of life during this final chapter.
Millions of people in the US receive hospice care each year. As the demand for end-of-life care has been increasing, several hospice agencies have emerged, overwhelming some patients and families in selecting a provider. Some patients who opt for hospice care are referred to a specific hospice provider by their physician. If you have a referral, it’s still helpful to ask the hospice provider questions to make sure they can meet your needs. If you don’t receive a referral and time allows, you should investigate hospice options in your area to determine which might be the best fit for you and your circumstances.
There may be significant differences among hospice providers in your area that are important to you and your family. The following are some considerations and questions you may want to ask:
- What services do you offer?
- Do you provide ongoing care for certain conditions?
- Do you participate in Medicare?
- Are you certified or accredited by a national organization?
- What, if any, support is available to family members and loved ones?
- How is my (or my loved one’s) primary physician involved?
- Do you have a volunteer program and what do hospice volunteers do?
- Do you offer after-hours services?
- Where do you provide services?
- Do you offer in-patient care and/or work with nursing homes or long-term care facilities?
- Do you have a chaplain available for spiritual support?
- Do you participate in the “We Honor Veterans” program?
- How long does it take to admit someone into your hospice care?
It’s helpful to compare and contrast hospice agencies to ensure that the provider you enroll with can fulfill your needs and wants. Asking questions and taking notes is helpful. You can also get a sense of an agency from the personnel you speak with. Be wary of providers who oversell or try to rush your decision.
At Remembrance Hospice, we know that the decision can be difficult and the circumstances overwhelming. We prioritize how we deliver hospice care so that we are the best choice for hospice care in Medina, Ohio; the best choice for you and your loved one. Some of those priorities are:
- Compassionate care staff
We take extreme care in selecting our hospice team. In this way, we give our clients peace of mind that they are cared for with dignity by more than highly skilled individuals, but also by compassionate human beings.
- Our commitment
As a preferred hospice provider in Ohio, our mission is to care for the whole person, not just the disease. We do this by addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of each, unique patient. More than a mission statement, we stay true to this holistic approach to deliver the most personalized hospice care every day. - Service options
We offer a wide array of hospice services, including skilled nursing care, attention from certified STNAs, personal assistance, social work, chaplain support, pet therapy, volunteer visits, family respite and support, and bereavement. We do not view these services as a checklist. We genuinely commit to each individual we care for as family, providing a tailored care plan with skill and compassion.
If you’d like to learn more about our services or hospice care in general (often called end-of life care or comfort care) in Medina, feel free to call us.
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