Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill or seriously ill patient’s symptoms. These symptoms can be physical, emotional, spiritual or psychosocial in nature. Hospice care focuses on bringing comfort, self-respect, and tranquility to people in their final year of life. Patients’ symptoms and pain are controlled, goals of care are discussed and emotional needs are supported. Hospice believes that the end of life is not a medical experience, it is a human experience that benefits from expert medical and holistic support that hospice offers.
Diagnoses
Hospice is not just for people with cancer. Our services benefit patients with a number of different diagnoses, including:
- End Stage Cardiovascular Disease
- Stroke
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- End-stage renal disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- End-Stage Liver Disease
- End-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
- End-Stage Dementia
- AIDS
- Debility
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
A-1 Hospice services includes:
- Home health aides to help with a patient’s bathing , grooming, cleaning patient areas, and other personal care tasks
- Nurses to assist with pain management, nutrition management and other medical care.
- Therapists to teach energy conservation techniques, home modifications, eating and drinking strategies, speech therapy, physical therapy for walking and more
- Chaplain for spiritual support
- Social workers for emotional support, counseling, financial, medical and legal guidance and resources.
- Trained volunteers for assistance and companionship
- Enhanced pain management: when patients elect hospice, doctors can be more liberal about pain management dosages and types of medication.
- 100% Medicare coverage for all medications, supplies and equipment related to the diagnosis.
- 24/7 On-Call nurses
Who can benefit from Hospice services?
- Patients who have a terminal illness with prognosis of six months or less, if the disease follows its normal process.
- Patient has a primary physician who agrees to coordinate care.
- The patient and family desire palliative care.
Where is Hospice services provided?
Hospice services are provided in a place where patient considers it his/her home. It could be a private residence, skilled nursing facility or an assisted living facility.
Senate Bill No. 380 End of Life was approved and is a Law in the State of California effective 01/01/2022.
A-1 Hospice’s mission and philosophy of hospice care believe that the end of life is not a medical experience, it is a human experience that benefits from expert medical and holistic support that hospice offers. So, A-1 Hospice doesn’t participate in providing a prescription for an aid-in-dying drug but will provide resources and support to patients seeking to exercise their rights.
More information regarding ‘Today’s law as amended’ can be found here.
