People who suffer from terminal illness experience ongoing pain for much of their lives. Albeit this is part of the process, there’s no need for these patients to suffer. Thanks to modern medicine, there is now a wide range of effective pain relief options to allow people who are nearing the end of their time to feel more comfortable.
Hospice Pain Management
Hospice is an effective method of care that is focused on bringing comfort to patients. It provides the necessary tools to help control the patient’s pain, along with other symptoms associated when one is approaching the end.
The philosophy of hospice is that no one should pass in discomfort; therefore, it implements a holistic approach to help minimize people’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual suffering.
To be eligible for home hospice, a patient must be given a diagnosis of six months or less to live. Hospice care is extremely valuable, not only to patients but to their families as well as it delivers a more thorough approach compared to hospital care.
Hospice & Hospitals: What’s the Difference?
At a hospital, the staff is focused on curing people and treating their sickness. However, this doesn’t apply to patients who are already at the end of their lives. Therefore, hospice is necessary as this is where the main focus is on comfort care that allows patients compassion and dignity during their final days.
Indeed, hospitals are willing to provide people with medications to ease the pain; however, their main goal is to fight sickness. In contrast, home hospice offers a wide range of pain management and emotional support services, and another thing that sets them apart from hospitals is that there is a possibility for non-medical approaches to treat pain. What are they?
- Massage: Many home health aides are trained in basic techniques to alleviate pain and anxiety in patients with massage.
- Music therapy: This is a powerful tool used by many home hospice carers to help patients physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Music helps reduce pain and anxiety but also promotes relaxation and supports legacy.
- Animal therapy: There are plenty of health benefits one can get from pet ownership. In addition to that, pet interaction is also helpful for terminally ill patients. Some care providers can provide visits with therapy dogs, which are believed to help reduce stress hormones, increase the levels of the natural opiates in the body, and raise oxytocin levels.
- Talk therapy: Physical and emotional pain are associated; therefore, addressing issues, such as anxiety and depression, that people usually face during the end of life is invaluable in improving their physical pain. Home health aides, volunteers, and social workers can be provided by home hospice service providers to help patients and their loved ones through talk therapy. They may also be able to connect you with chaplains for spiritual support.
Find the Right Home Hospice Provider
If you have a loved one who is recommended to enter hospice, you want to ensure they receive the best care possible. Research is key to help you find the right service provider. You can also ask your healthcare provider. Knowing the difference between hospice and hospital care is essential to allow you to understand and make better decisions.
Here at Gateway Home Health Hospice, we offer quality hospice care in Colorado Springs that can help you or your loved one pass on in a place you’re comfortable in. We are trained to manage all symptoms for end-stage illnesses. Contact us today.