3 11, 2020

What You Need to Know About 4 Levels of Hospice Care Right Now

Robert Laethem2022-08-10T09:14:00-04:00Categories: News|Tags: Home Care, Palliative Care|

You should always feel at home. Under four levels of hospice care, you will. Hospice care designs treatments to meet the needs of patients, providing them care at the comfort in their own homes. While every hospice regimen is different, four levels of hospice care exist. Here is a quick guide to each level. Differences Between Curative, Palliative, and Hospice Care Curative, palliative and hospice care each have their own definitions, though they have some overlap. Curative care creates complete relief from serious illnesses. Doctors diagnose, treat, and prevent symptoms, attempting to cure illnesses. Palliative care provides comfort and pain management for chronic illnesses. Like curative doctors, palliative doctors diagnose, treat, and prevent symptoms. However, palliative doctors specialize in procedures that assist with chronic illnesses. Palliative care can accompany curative care. You will not give up curative treatments if you engage in palliative ones. If a doctor determines that a patient is likely to die within six months, the doctor admits the patient into hospice care. The four levels of hospice care use palliative treatments to treat physical and psychological symptoms alike. However, hospice care employs no curative measures. Though curative and palliative measures include families, hospice care emphasizes the welfare of families. Families have a voice in their loved one's treatments and can receive therapy if Read More

6 08, 2020

6 Surprising FAQ About Palliative Care You Should Know

Robert Laethem2021-06-17T03:48:35-04:00Categories: News|Tags: Curative Care, Frequently Asked Questions, Palliative Care|

If you are considering palliative care options for a loved one, or even for yourself, you may find the wealth of information out there overwhelming. We get it! That's why this month, we've compiled a list of the most FAQ about palliative care. Reading these should provide you with some confidence about the options available to you, or at least provide a strong jumping-off point for your continued research. Palliative Care: FAQs for You and Your Loved Ones #1 FAQ About Palliative Care: Is palliative care the same as curative care? No! Palliative care differs from curative care in that the former deals with diagnosing, treating, and preventing symptoms associated with serious, or life-threatening, illnesses. The goal of curative care is to create complete relief from the symptoms. Palliative management, on the other hand, includes the comfort and pain management for seriously ill or terminally ill patients. Palliative care also includes psychological counseling and support for the patient and their loved ones as they go through the process of managing a chronic illness. While curative care deals with providing cures to serious illnesses, palliative care deals more with comfort and pain management. An example of curative care might be chemotherapy for patients with cancer. However, in this instance, curative care and palliative care would go together Read More

9 06, 2020

ER or Palliative Care? Discover Your Options In This Guide

Robert Laethem2021-10-22T09:05:52-04:00Categories: News|Tags: Emergency Room, News, Palliative Care, Saginaw|

Palliative Care or ER? If you or a loved one are suffering from a serious, chronic illness, you’re likely no stranger to the emergency room. When someone’s body is already engaged in the fight of their life, any comorbidity seems like an urgent reason to head to the emergency room. However, the emergency room can present its own set of challenges. From viral infections spread throughout the waiting rooms to long and stressful wait times, the emergency room is nobody’s favorite place. With this in mind, it’s worth considering your options. A question especially worth answering is whether a palliative care service can provide the same level of care as an emergency room visit with a heightened level of comfort. Defining Palliative Care Dr. Diane Meier is a leading expert in palliative care, and she beautifully summarizes palliative care as “a partnership between the patient and the clinician.” Palliative care is a service provided by a specially-trained team of physicians, nurses, and specialists, who offer care to relieve the symptoms and stress of a particular instance. The aim of such care is to ensure patients remain comfortable and their families can focus on enjoying their time with them, rather than transitioning to full-time caregivers overnight. Palliative Care Patient Characteristics Because palliative care is meant to relieve Read More

30 05, 2020

When to Make the Shift from Chronic to End of Life Care

Robert Laethem2021-10-22T09:04:42-04:00Categories: News|Tags: End of Life Care, hospice care, Palliative Care|

Determining when your loved one should transition from chronic care to end of life care can be one of the most challenging things you will ever undertake. Though there is no specific point in a medical diagnosis where end of life care technically begins, the decision must be made on an individual patient's case--based on their unique status and the progression of their respective illness. Doctors may advise their patients on the states of a diagnosis that can offer general guidelines regarding the progressions of a specific disease. Additionally, there are other signs that it could be time to make the leap into end of life care. Some examples might include: The patient has visited the emergency room multiple times during a short period. Although they were stabilized, their condition continues to worsen over time. The patient has begun refusing the proper treatment because of their awareness of the depth of progression of their condition. Despite consistent medical care, the patient's condition continues to decline. The patient may wish to remain at home rather than continuing to make trips to the hospital. Who is End of Life Care For? Any person with a life-threatening illness is eligible for hospice care. Such care is not limited by the type of disease, age, background, culture, or belief. Supportive Read More

28 02, 2020

Talking About In-Home Palliative Care For Aging Parents

Robert Laethem2021-10-22T09:01:22-04:00Categories: News|Tags: Palliative Care, Senior Care, Senior Health|

Every year, approximately 1.4 million people receive in-home palliative care. Of this group, about 66 percent received care where they lived rather than at a separate facility. Are your parents dealing with chronic illnesses? Do they seem to be in denial about the severity of their condition or the amount of assistance they need? If this is the case, you might need to talk to your parents about in-home palliative care. This can be a difficult conversation, for sure. Keeping these guidelines in mind can help to make it easier. Signs Your Parents Need In-Home Palliative Care Your parents might be in denial about their condition, but you might be in denial as well. If you're not sure whether or not your parents need in-home palliative care, consider whether or not you've noticed the following warning signs: They have trouble with daily tasks, such as eating, using the bathroom, or performing basic acts of self-care Their symptoms seem to be getting worse They have to go to the hospital often and come home exhausted and drained by the experience They seem worn out and want to sleep all the time You feel worn out and are having a hard time keeping up with all of your needs This last point is especially important. Your feelings matter Read More

29 08, 2019

Hospice vs Palliative Care: What’s the Difference?

Robert Laethem2021-10-22T08:53:47-04:00Categories: Health|Tags: Cardinal Hospice, hospice care, hospice care at home, Hospice Services, Palliative Care|

There are currently more than 1.4 million hospice patients in the United States and millions more who require palliative care. Are you or someone you love struggling with long-term pain or having difficulty recovering from a serious illness? Do you need help staying comfortable and managing your health from home? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, you may be planning on hiring a professional for additional support. You may also be wondering whether hospice vs palliative care is a better option. Read on to learn more about the differences between hospice vs palliative care. You'll also receive some tips on how to choose which one is right for your loved one or for you. What Is Hospice vs Palliative Care? Hospice care is designed to provide physical comfort and compassion, as well as a feeling of dignity, to those who are suffering from a life-limiting illness. Hospice care at home is specifically meant for those whose life expectancy is, at the most, six months. When a patient stops receiving treatment for their illness, hospice care becomes an option to them. A patient may stop receiving treatment because they, personally, choose to no longer undergo it, or because they no longer have any treatment options available to them. Where Does Hospice Care vs Palliative Care Read More