Who benefits from Life Choice Hospice services?
Hospice provides holistic services for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the terminally ill and their families. It is most appropriate for patients who have decided to focus on comfort, rather than cure. The decision to discontinue aggressive treatments to cure illness is a difficult one. Our team is sensitive to these concerns and is always available to consult with those needing information, guidance and support.
Hospice care offers a compassionate option to treatments, incorporating the wishes of patients and loved ones in all end-of-life decisions. Our care is designed to alleviate pain, control symptoms and relieve anxiety through expertise and compassion. When a new patient arrives, an individualized plan of care is developed by our team based upon that patient’s own needs and desires. Each plan is tailored to meet those needs and maximize quality of life.
Take our online survey to see if hospice is right for you.
Care from Life Choice Includes:
- Educating the patient and family on care needs, the disease process, nutrition, medications, physical changes and emotions
- Regularly assessing the patient’s condition and comfort
- Addressing pain or other symptoms and recommending adjustments in medication when necessary to maximize comfort, conserve energy and enhance quality of life
- Assistance with nursing procedures and other technical help
- Coordinating care and communicating with the patient’s physician
- Assistance with bathing, dressing and other personal care
- Medications, equipment, oxygen and other needed supplies
- Providing support to ease emotional and spiritual distress for the patient and family
- On-call nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for questions and visits
- Help arranging additional resources if needed
Individualized Care
At Life Choice, we work with patients and families to create a plan of care to meet their needs and adapt the plan as needs change. A registered nurse visits regularly, coordinates care and stays in communication with the patient’s own doctor. Our nurses have extensive training and specialize in caring for people with life-limiting illnesses. The patient’s own doctor continues to direct and be involved in the patient’s care. Our medical directors oversee our staff, consult with the patient’s doctor and can make home visits if needed. In addition, the medical directors can become the primary doctor for those patients who do not have their own physician.
Other team members visit as needed and desired. Most patients and families choose to receive care from several team members, including social workers, home health aides, spiritual care counselors and volunteers.
How Care Begins
Care starts with a phone call from the patient’s physician, a hospital or other healthcare staff, a family member or the patient. Call 800-557-7570 or contact us online to schedule an informational visit to determine how Life Choice can help and whether it is right for you.
