How Does Hospice Help Patients Manage Pain and Symptoms?
The Importance of Managing Pain During Hospice Care
At the beginning of hospice, patients have likely undergone treatment for their illness, and may even have had treatment that causes pain, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and drug therapy. Hospice care will typically begin when a patient is no longer receiving treatment and has a life expectancy of less than six months. At this stage in the patient’s journey, we focus on managing symptoms, managing pain, medicine management, and dosage control. Adequate pain management takes attention to detail by the healthcare providers, noticing small signs, using appropriate tools, and creating open communication with the patient. We work diligently to manage pain effectively and create a comfortable experience for every patient.
What Services Does Hospice Include?
With a team of nurses and support staff, hospice patients receive emotional, physical, and spiritual support. The Star City Hospice staff works with the patient to improve their life and make them comfortable. We offer hospice care in long-term care facilities, hospitals, and even the patient’s home to ensure the patient is receiving the best care regardless of their location. During hospice, there is a focus on pain management and symptom relief to increase the patient’s quality of life. We manage symptoms to allow the patient more energy and involvement in the activities around them, which gives them a better quality of time to spend with their loved ones. Every patient in hospice care receives a unique care plan designed to maximize their comfort and minimize their pain.
Providing Pain Management
Managing Symptoms
Managing symptoms of hospice patients is unique to every situation. We monitor each patient closely to ensure their care plan is regularly modified. Regardless of what a patient is dealing with, our team will know how to proceed. Symptom management includes side effects from medications, physical ailments, dietary troubles, physiotherapy, massages, therapy, reflexology, relaxation, and many more.
How Our Team Assesses Pain
Doctors and nurses working in hospice care receive specific training to understand patients’ pain levels and to identify signals that provide them with updates. With the goal of making patients as comfortable asd possible, we work with the patient to understand their adaptive needs. Our nursing staff is always up-to-date on their patients’ health and pain management needs, which allows them to make appropriate changes to address symptoms.
Creating Better Moments for Every Patient
During hospice care we provide support and pain management to allow the patients a better quality of life. We focus on enriching the experiences they can have with their family and loved ones. With physical, emotional, and spiritual support patients feel empowered to spend the remaining part of their journey creating memories and enjoying the moment. Through communication with the patient and their family, we can make decisions that best serve their needs.
Providing Patients with Additional Support
Hospice care provides support for the primary caregivers and relieves them of some of the more technical responsibilities. By handling things like medication administration, pain management, physical support, and practical support, the primary caregivers have more time available to them. Caregivers can spend more quality time with the patient instead of being drained and unavailable.
Better Care Provides a Better Quality of Life
End-of-life care isn’t a way to plan one’s death, but a way to embrace the time they have now. With many types of support, hospice patients can live an enriched and full life. We make changes and adapt to their needs to provide care that serves them well. The hospice team also works closely with the family to support their needs and create an environment that benefits everyone. We believe patients have the right to a fulfilling end-of-life journey, and with our efforts hope to support them in ways that improve and complement their lives.
Providing Patient-Focused End-of-Life Care
Star City Hospice: Palliative Care
Palliative care is a wider form of healthcare provided for patients who are typically undergoing curative treatment. Patients under palliative care may transition into hospice care in the event that treatment is no longer applicable.
During Palliative care, patients will receive individualized care with a focus on relieving the patient’s pain and reducing their symptoms. The stressors from an end-of-life illness can cause difficulties, and palliative care is designed to provide for the needs of the patient. Quality of life improvements often focus on the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the patient. Relieving pain, improving mental well-being, and adding value to the lives of patients offers peace of mind to the family and patients.
Counseling Services
We encourage all patients and their families to utilize a variety of support services during hospice care. Professional counseling and therapy help with managing stress, anxiety, and give you tools on how to help yourself and your loved ones. Group counseling allows families to be open and honest about their experiences. Group sessions function as a way to create a strong support system within the family. Grief counseling offers a safe space for the families of patients to honestly confront their emotions before and after losing a loved one. Patients and family members must prioritize their mental and emotional health to ensure they have the tools to support each other.
Respite Care
Respite care is an additional level of hospice care that offers the patient’s caregiver a break from their responsibilities. Families utilize respite care for attending weddings and other important life events, during travel, or when they simply need to recharge. This short-term form of care may include full-time support for the patient or support during their stay at a care facility. During respite care, we offer the same services as pain management, symptom control, and personal assistance during daily life activities. These services can be provided in-home or at a residential care facility, like a hospital, nursing home, or inpatient hospice facility. Learn more about Respite Care and other services by contacting Star City Hospice.
Bereavement Care
The families of hospice patients all handle processing the events differently. After losing a family member, people often feel lost and search for closeness in different ways. Star City Hospice provides bereavement services to support family members during the period after losing their loved one. For up to 13 months, we can offer bereavement support, which includes a variety of resources to help you manage your loss. We will contact you in different ways, including celebrating your loved on anniversaries, birthdays, and honoring their military service. We offer resources for therapy, managing anxiety and depression, and finding support groups. Through this difficult process, Star City Hospice hopes to help you manage life after loss and find joy in the positive memories.
Spiritual Counseling
We believe that all aspects of a patient’s health are important, and during hospice care, we offer a range of services to help patients manage their spirituality. Spiritual counselors and care providers are available for patients and their family members to offer guidance and support. Managing emotions and fears when facing a terminal illness or going into hospice care is a big undertaking. You must receive help in all aspects of your life and are given the tools to have peace and hope throughout the end-of-life journey. Spiritual Counselors and chaplains are available to offer assistance that respects your beliefs and offers you guidance in a way that resonates with your personal spiritual beliefs.
Family Support
During Hospice Care, patients and their families often feel isolated from their normal daily life. They focus on helping the patient and providing support during their end-of-life journey. Without realizing it, family members can put off their own needs and avoid dealing with the reality of their situation. These situations cause a wide range of emotions that many people don’t have experience navigating, so counselors and social workers can offer resources to assist your journey. With frequent check-ins, we aim to ensure nobody is slipping through the cracks and can receive help when they need it. The emotional needs of children and teens may be missed during these periods, and helping them manage their anxiety and difficult emotions is an invaluable resource.
24/7 Hospice Support
Star City Hospice aims to create a positive and supportive experience for all patients and their families. Because problems can arise at any point, you will have access to our 24/7 after-hours support line.
Whether symptoms change, there are issues with medications, pain management, or you notice signs that something may be wrong, you can call our help line to speak with a Nurse Manager. We provide around-the-clock availability so our patients can rest assured that we can offer assistance whenever necessary. We are glad to provide help and support throughout the entire period of hospice care.
Supporting The Community of North Texas
Star City Hospice is proud to serve residents of the Lone Star State. We offer hospice care for Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding areas. We offer the best hospice care in the region and work to continue meeting the highest standards.
Learn More About Palliative and Hospice Care
With hospice care, we help provide patients with the opportunity to enrich their lives. As we offer comfort and support during their end-of-life journey, we address emotional and physical needs. This allows them to share their experiences with their loved ones. With reduced pain and symptom management, patients have more energy and focus. There is never a time too late to begin hospice care. If you believe your loved one would benefit from these services, reach out to Star City Hospice to learn more.