Hospice

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Term Paper Title	Hospice
# of Words	1840
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	7.36

Hospice

Hospice

General Purpose of the Department:

As we have learned, the hospice idea is not new.  Literally  meaning "given to
hospitality,"  hospices provided comfort, kindness, and nourishment to people in
need hundreds of years ago.  Today, hospices offer comfort to people as they
near the end of life's journey.

Hospice is a special way of caring for people with terminal illnesses and their
families.   It is  a multidisciplinary health care program that is responsible
for palliative and supportive care with consideration of the patient's and
families wishes.  Hospice focuses on care, not cure.

Hospice care is important because it provides many benefits that aren't possible
in a traditional acute or long-term health care setting.  Within hospice, the
family of the patient is directly involved in making decisions and helping their
loved one.  Hospice also gives the patient to have a great amount of control by
deciding where they want to spend the rest of their lives.  It can also help
make choices about advanced directives which we will discuss shortly.

Major Functions of the Department:

Hospice is a very unique department because it truly looks at the "big picture"
and treats a spectrum of patient needs equally.  Special attention is given to:

Physical needs - this is the first and foremost function.  Within hospice you
are dealing with a patient that has been given a diagnosis of having 6 months or
less to live.  For many patients, relieving pain through medication is an
important part of hospice care.  I have provided you with a list of ways that
patients are made more comfortable.  A goal of hospice it to help patients use
their physical abilities as fully as possible.

Social Needs - Sometimes little things make all the difference to people.
Although these patients may not be as active as before their illness, you can
see on your handout a list of things that they probably still enjoy.  Hospice
can help to make these things happen, as well as provide assistance with
practical issues like putting finances in order.

Emotional Needs: Hospice can help patients cope with loneliness, isolation, and
the fear of being abandoned.  This is outlined on your handout as to how the
hospice staff accomplishes this.  Hospice also helps friends and families of the
patient express their emotions through  group and bereavement counseling.

Spiritual Needs - the realization that a person's spirituality is of a daily
concern to the patient has led hospice ca...

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