Specialized Hospice Services for Different Illnesses: Tailoring Care for Specific Needs

Specialized Hospice Services for Different Illnesses: Tailoring Care for Specific Needs

by | Aug 2, 2023 | Uncategorized

Hospice services play a vital role in Lancaster, providing compassionate end-of-life care to individuals with a wide variety of terminal illnesses. To ensure the highest level of comfort and support, the hospice care team specializes in services tailored to the unique needs of patients with terminal illnesses. This is comfort focused care to thoughtfully manage specific bothersome symptoms and emotional needs based on the patient’s and family’s values and goals of care. In this article, we will explore how hospice services customize care for each individual patient, providing the best possible support for patients and their families with the overarching goal of making every day the best day possible.

1. Cancer-Specific Hospice Care
Cancer is a complex illness that can manifest in various forms, each presenting distinct challenges for patients. Hospice services specializing in cancer care focus on managing pain and other bothersome symptoms associated with the disease. Emotional support is paramount in addressing the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis. The care team collaborates with oncologists and palliative care specialists to optimize pain and symptom management and ensure the patient’s comfort throughout their journey.

2. Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias require specialized care that addresses memory loss, confusion, and changes in behavior and functional ability. Hospice services caring for patients with these conditions prioritize creating a calming and familiar environment for patients. The care team is knowledgeable in communicating effectively with individuals experiencing cognitive decline, and providing comfort and reassurance during moments of confusion or agitation. Emotional support is extended to family members, offering guidance on coping strategies and providing respite care when needed.

3. Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Conditions
Hospice services specializing in heart disease and cardiovascular conditions focus on managing symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, edema, palpitations and chest pain. The care team collaborates with cardiologists, if necessary, to ensure that medication and symptom management are optimized. Emotional support and counseling are offered to patients and their families, helping them navigate the emotional and physical complexities of living with a chronic cardiovascular condition.

4. Respiratory Disorders and Lung Diseases
Respiratory disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and pulmonary fibrosis, require specialized care to address breathing difficulties, poor exercise tolerance and oxygen support. Hospice services tailor care plans to manage respiratory symptoms effectively ensuring patients are as comfortable as possible. The care team educates family members on assisting with oxygen therapy and other respiratory and energy conservation techniques, fostering a comfortable, safe and supportive environment for patients.

5. Neurological Disorders
Hospice services for neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and multiple sclerosis (MS), focus on maintaining patients’ mobility and independence as long as possible. The care team addresses pain, muscle spasms, and other symptoms associated with these conditions, and how to care for them as their independence wanes. Specialized therapies, such as physical and occupational therapy, if indicated, are incorporated to promote patient comfort and enhance their quality of life.

Wrapping up:
At Oasis Hospice, as a leading provider of hospice services in Lancaster, CA, our specialized approach ensures that people with a wide variety of life limiting illnesses receive the highest level of comfort, support, and compassion during their end-of-life journey. Our dedicated interdisciplinary care team works collaboratively to address unique symptoms and emotional challenges, providing personalized care plans that enhance the quality of life for patients and offer guidance and respite to their families. At Oasis Hospice, we take pride in being recognized as one of the best hospice services in Lancaster, CA, committed to honoring the dignity and well-being of our patients, making their final chapter as comfortable and meaningful as possible. Reach out to us today!

Embracing Compassionate Care: The Core Values of Senior Citizen Hospice Services

Embracing Compassionate Care: The Core Values of Senior Citizen Hospice Services

by | Aug 2, 2023 | Uncategorized

In the golden years of life, our seniors deserve the utmost care, compassion, and support. In San Fernando Valley, senior citizen hospice services play a pivotal role in ensuring that elderly individuals receive the dignity and comfort they deserve during their end-of-life journey.

We will explore the core values that underpin Senior Citizen Hospice Services through this blog post, emphasizing the importance of compassionate care and the profound impact it has on the lives of our beloved seniors.

Respect and Dignity:
At the heart of Senior Citizen Hospice Services lies the unwavering commitment to treating every senior with the utmost respect and preserving their dignity. Recognizing the wisdom and life experiences of our elders, our care teams work tirelessly to create an environment that fosters self-worth and honors their unique stories. By embracing a person-centered approach, we ensure that each senior’s choices and preferences are respected throughout their hospice journey, empowering them to maintain a sense of control and autonomy.

Compassionate Support:
Compassion forms the bedrock of our hospice services for senior citizens. Our empathetic and skilled caregivers are dedicated to providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support to both seniors and their families. We understand that this phase of life can be challenging for all involved, and our compassionate care teams stand ready to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. By cultivating genuine connections and fostering a supportive environment, we aim to alleviate pain and anxiety while promoting emotional healing and acceptance.

Pain and Symptom Management:
Senior Citizen Hospice Services prioritize pain and symptom management to ensure the highest quality of life during the end-of-life journey. Our interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals collaborates to address pain, discomfort, and other distressing symptoms that seniors may experience. By tailoring care plans to individual needs, we strive to enhance comfort and maintain a peaceful and dignified existence.

Emotional and Spiritual Well-being:
Recognizing the multifaceted nature of the human experience, our hospice services extend beyond physical care. We prioritize the emotional and spiritual well-being of seniors, offering counseling, companionship, and access to spiritual support if desired. By providing a nurturing space for emotional expression and spiritual contemplation, we aim to bring solace and peace during this significant stage of life.

Family Involvement and Education:
At Senior Citizen Hospice Services, we acknowledge the profound impact of end-of-life care on families. We actively involve family members in the care planning process, providing them with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate this journey with their loved ones. By offering educational opportunities and emotional support, we strive to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for both seniors and their families based on their specific values and goals of care.

Conclusion:
At Oasis Hospice, we are steadfast in our commitment to providing reliable and effective Senior Citizen Hospice Services in  CA. With an empathetic and skilled care team, we ensure that seniors and their loved ones receive the utmost care, comfort, and support during their end-of-life journey. As trusted hospice care providers, we embrace the privilege of offering solace and dignity to our cherished seniors. With Oasis Hospice, you can rest assured that your loved ones are in caring and capable hands. Reach out to us today!

What is Hospice Care?

What is Hospice Care?

by | Feb 1, 2023 | Uncategorized

Oasis Hospice

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is a philosophy of care for people with a progressive, serious or life-limiting illness when a cure is no longer possible or the burden of the curative treatment is more than the benefit. Treatment goals are directed toward relief of symptoms with an overall objective of enhancing a person’s comfort, sense of dignity and well being. Hospice is end of life care, but at Oasis Hospice we concentrate on helping the patient live well with the time left. The interdisciplinary team of professionals at Oasis Hospice are trained to address physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the patient and their family. We focus on what matters most to the patient and their family, to help them make every day the best day possible given the current circumstances. Our interdisciplinary team can help people clarify their goals, priorities, fears and worries so they can focus on living each day to the fullest. The focus is on caring, not curing.

How do you know it is time for Hospice?

1. When your healthcare provider believes your life expectancy is 6 months or less if the illness runs its usual course.

2. When you can no longer care for yourself and spend most of your time in bed or a chair.

3. When there is a significant decline in physical and/or cognitive function despite medical treatment.

4. When there is increased pain or other symptoms, substantial weight loss, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and/or weakness.

5. When you have frequent Emergency Room or hospital visits with no lasting improvement in condition.

6. When your goal is comfort, dignity and quality of life rather than aggressive, but often non-beneficial treatments, that have been unsuccessful in curing or halting a progressive or life-threatening illness.

In-home hospice care is provided wherever the person calls home.

Hospice care is a philosophy of care that focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life in the person’s familiar environment – wherever they call home. This can be in their private home, nursing home, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, memory care facilities, and in hospitals (under certain circumstances). Often, due to the added support provided by Oasis Hospice’s interdisciplinary team, a person is able to remain at home. Care is delivered by a team of professionals who address the patient’s needs on medical, physical, emotional and spiritual levels. The team consists of the attending physician, hospice nurses, home health aides, social workers, and spiritual counselors/chaplains. They routinely make scheduled visits to the patient’s location, but care is available 24/7 to meet the patient’s needs.

In-home hospice care gives patients a sense of dignity and control.

Hospice aims to restore meaning and dignity by managing pain and other bothersome symptoms with compassionate care tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes. The interdisciplinary hospice team treats the person rather than the disease. Our patients and families deserve to be treated with respect and to be honored as unique individuals. The hospice team helps clarify what matters most to patients and families by helping them define and discuss their goals of care and priorities. Hospice puts the patient and family in control. They make the decisions with guidance from the interdisciplinary team.

Who pays for hospice care?

Hospice is paid for by Medicare, Medi-cal and most major insurance companies. All services, including visits by nurses, physicians, home health aides, equipment, medications and supplies related to the terminal illness are typically covered 100%. This will be explained carefully prior to signing up for hospice services.

Who is eligible for hospice care?

To be eligible for hospice care, a hospice physician and a second physician (often the patient’s primary care provider or specialist) must certify that the patient meets specific medical eligibility criteria indicating that an individual’s life expectancy is 6 months or less if the illness runs its usual course. The patient and family must also desire treatment that focuses on comfort rather than cure and no longer wish to receive aggressive care in a hospital setting. Common diagnoses of those who receive hospice care include, but are not limited to: cancer, heart disease, lung disease, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, end stage kidney disease, liver disease and neurological diseases. If you are not sure if you meet eligibility criteria, call Oasis Hospice for an information meeting.

Hospice Myths and Misconceptions

Hospice Myths and Misconceptions

by | May 30, 2022 | Uncategorized

Oasis Hospice

Hospice Myths and Misconceptions

Myths and Misconceptions
MYTH: Hospice means “giving up” or “giving up hope.”

FACT: Hospice focuses on maximizing quality of life when a cure is no longer possible or the burden of the cure is more than the benefit. Hospice can help people revise what they hope for and focus on living each day to the fullest.

MYTH: Hospice is a place people go when there is nothing more that can be done.

FACT: Hospice is not a place but a philosophy of care that focuses on what matters most, wherever the person calls home. Hospice professionals can do so many things to control pain, reduce anxiety, offer spiritual and emotional support to help a person live well with the time they have.

MYTH: Hospice care is only for people who are going to die soon.

FACT: Receiving hospice care does not mean death is imminent. Hospice is for people with a presumed 6 month life expectancy, but many people wait too long or are referred late. The earlier a person receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to stabilize the medical condition and address other needs.

MYTH: Choosing hospice means giving up all medical treatment.

FACT: The reality is that hospice places the person and their family at the center of the care-planning process and provides high quality care that is comfort focused and includes careful pain and symptom management.

MYTH: Hospice care is expensive.

FACT: Hospice care, including professional visits, medications, medical supplies, and equipment related to the hospice diagnosis is a Medicare benefit. Medi-Cal and most private insurers also cover hospice.

MYTH: Hospice provides 24 hour care.

FACT: Hospice care is based on intermittent visits but is available 24/7 for support and care. Hospice can help the family arrange 24 hour care by private duty caregivers if necessary.

MYTH: Hospice uses Morphine and other strong medications that cause the patient to die sooner.

FACT: Hospice uses Morphine and other medications carefully to keep the patient comfortable and as alert as possible. These medications do not cause death.

MYTH: Once you choose hospice there is no turning back.

FACT: You are free to leave a hospice program any time and for any reason you want without penalty. You can re-enroll in hospice again as long as you meet the medical criteria.

Contact Details

Oasis Hospice 43845 10th St W. Suite 2C, Lancaster, CA 93534

Ph: 661.206.7741

Fax: 661.802.7714 WWW.OASISHOSPICE.ORG