-->

What You Need To Know About Oklahoma Hospice Care

By Anna Sanders


The end of life isn't always quick and easy. It can be painful, discouraging, and sad. It's important for the dying individuals and their families to know they don't have to go through the process alone. There are caring, compassionate professionals available at all hours and willing to go wherever they are needed to assist in making this final transition easier and less painful. Oklahoma hospice care is a good example.

There are questions about palliative care that are common to most cases. One of them regards the right time to discuss it with seniors. This subject is going to be uncomfortable for some family members, but it should be discussed well in advance of the actual need. This way the plans will have already been made when the loved one reaches the final stages of life. There is enough stress at this time without adding extra issues.

Hospice will not automatically come in. The family has to request that they do so. After receiving a request, the agency can process it within two days. The service will have a representative meet with the patient and family right away. If the situation is especially urgent, the request can be expedited.

Every patient in hospice will have the services of a registered nurse, home health worker, volunteer, social worker, and chaplain available to them. This team works with the family, and the individual as appropriate, to put together a plan that fits the individual needs of each situation. The staff members divide their time between a number of patients. Nurses may care for a dozen or more patients. Social workers usually have twice that.

When illness reaches its final stages there can be a lot of pain involved. The palliative assistance staff is trained to keep the patient as pain free and comfortable as possible. They work with the physicians to ensure they clearly understand the medications, therapies, and procedures necessary to achieve the desired results. The staff meets regularly with physicians to go over any changes or modifications to the original treatments.

Hospice workers will go wherever there is need. A patient doesn't have to be in the hospital to receive this kind of help. The staff ministers to patients in nursing homes and other long term facilities. Palliative care workers have agreements in place with these institutions that allow them to enter the premise to work with their clients.

For patients who need more attention than their families can provide for them in their homes there is always the option of freestanding hospice houses and inpatient residential centers. Families must be aware however that these facilities are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. It's a good idea to make plans early to obtain the type of insurance that will cover this circumstance.

The end of life is not always easy. It can be messy, painful, and prolonged. Families should take advantage of all the resources available to them to make the process more bearable.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment