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Hospice
In my essay I will explain what hospices are, what they do and how
they do it. I will also cover who do it to and what their response is
to what the hospice have provided them with. This essay will also
explain how the hospice is the alternative to euthanasia, pain and
suffering. The Hospice movement represents one Christian response to
pain and suffering.
What is a Hospice?
A hospice is a home for the care of terminally ill (People who are
dying).
The aim of a hospice is to improve the quality of life of the dying
person and bring relief to the family members. Hospices are different
to hospitals because hospitals cure or treat patients for them to heal
and go back into society until they need treatment again from an
accident or check up etc.
However hospices take care of the people who know their time is near
so they go to this hospice to ease their pain and suffering and living
the rest of their days feeling loved and valued. When they are in the
Hospice they do not necessarily have to stay there and socialise with
the other patients, they can also leave the hospice to go out and
enjoy themselves.
St Christopher's Hospice
========================
The founder of the modern hospice movement in Britain is Dame Cicerly
Saunders who was born in (1918). She had first trained as a nurse but
had to give up this because of a bad back. At one time of her career
she became very close to a man named David Tasma. Dame Cicerly
Saunders decided to set up the hospice because at the time of this
relationship she realised there should be a place for the care of the
sick people and wondered if she could set...
... middle of paper ...
...because normally people would die with fear of what comes next but the
hospice provides care for the mind so they have "Peace of mind." I
also think that the hospice is good because difficult problems should
be faced.
A man once said "The key to immortality is living a life worth
remembering." This quote actually came from Bruce Lee I'm amazed that
at his age he was able to think of such a philosophy.
The Christians agree with hospices because it is an alternative to
euthanasia. They believe this because if someone went to ask for
euthanasia and another to go to a hospice the person who went chose
euthanasia would leave this world troubled because they don't know
what is coming next. On the other hand the hospice gives them peace of
mind and understanding that don't be afraid of god for he is merciful
and loving.
God tells his children, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation). Death is one of the most frightening and confusing times a person can go through. Watching a loved one pass away is also one of the hardest trials a person can experience. Many people assume that death is a time of pain and the only thing that they can do is mourn and watch their loved one fade away from the earth. This is wrong. There are ways that people can turn a bad situation to good. Dying doesn’t have to be painful and full of suffering. The County Hospice staff makes sure of this. The Hospice staff not only takes care of passing patients physically, but they also take care of the patients emotionally and spiritually. Hospice staff also plays a key role in helping families during the grieving process.
The change which is outlined in this paper relates to how early referral of terminally ill patients into a hospice program results in better patient outcomes, in particular, with regard to pain management. PICO format question will be used , along with a supportive body of evidence regarding the fact that early onset into a hospice program is helpful with providing end of life pain control. Hospice programs available, and options associated with them will be discussed as well as common concerns associated with early admission to hospice. The methods used for payment of hospice, and how one qualifies for entrance into a hospice program will be explored. A literature search will be performed and its results detailed within the body of this paper. Recent publications on the subject matter and associated issues such as moral and ethical questions as well as the change question will be discussed. Planning, implementing and evaluation of the change proposed will be explored within this paper.
Gawande’s book is very pertinent to the present day and has by many accounts sparked a national discussion on end-of-life care and how we treat our elderly. With elderly people accounting for a greater proportion of the American populace and as people start living even longer than they do now, end-of-life care will become and remain a major issue faced by doctors, patients, their families, and the healthcare system. Additionally, with our greater focus on improving patient outcomes while getting the most value for our healthcare dollars, end-of-life care is a major area that healthcare systems and hospitals will focus on, as it accounts for a large portion of their budget. As a response to the need to take care of our aging population, hospice care and palliative medicine are some of the newer specialties in the medical field that have been increasing in popularity and more research needs to be focused in these areas to better understand how to improve patient outcomes.
The preface focuses on the type of care Hospice provides for the patient and family, while the section entitled "Hospice is..." provides a detailed definition of hospice.Chapter One demonstrates the sensitivity a hospice nurse must use when dealing with new patients and how the nurse must remain unbiased at all times. Chapter Two reviews the family emotional strains and stresses which can be experienced when a loved one is dying within the home and how different people deal with the change. In Chapter Three we can develop a deeper understanding of an individual's strength and acceptance through the story of Karen, a seven year old who is dying from cancer. The different coping mechanisms expressed by Karen's parents are very contrast dramatically as the needs of survivors vary.Chapter Four highlights patients' need for control and decision making over his or her own life. In Chapter Five, Henrietta, the patient had very little control over her treatment and pain because her husband refused to accept her dying, until Janice (hospice nurse) promised her dignity during death. In Chapter Six, William tries a new method of pain control and his spirits are lifted as he once again has some control in his life as expressed in his statement, "I can't believe the power I have"(1, p.194).
There are two different objectives to the meaning of Death with dignity. The first idea of death with dignity is support, comfort and care for the dying. Starting with support, the goal is to support the actively dying person physically, mentally and emotionally throughout all decisions. Taking in interests and concerns and being with them through any and all decisions made even if it is not a decision you believe in or agree with. Secondly, providing comfort and reassurance to the person throughout treatment. This can be done by managing medications, repositioning when needed and holding a hand or being a shoulder to cry on when needed. Being open and honest with current circumstances and help with planning their end of life plans based off of what they would like to have. And lastly care, this as well involves managing medications when a person can no longer do so as well as helping the person with activities such as getting dressed, eating, brushing teeth and going to the bathroom when the person can no longer do so on their own.
Hospice focuses on end of life care. When patients are facing terminal illness and have an expected life sentence of days to six months or less of life. Care can take place in different milieu including at home, hospice care center, hospital, and skilled nursing facility. Hospice provides patients and family the tool and resources of how to come to the acceptance of death. The goal of care is to help people who are dying have peace, comfort, and dignity. A team of health care providers and volunteers are responsible for providing care. A primary care doctor and a hospice doctor or medical director will patients care. The patient is allowed to decide who their primary doctor will be while receiving hospice care. It may be a primary care physician or a hospice physician. Nurses provide care at home by vising patient at home or in a hospital setting facility. Nurses are responsible for coordination of the hospice care team. Home health aides provide support for daily and routine care ( dressing, bathing, eating and etc). Spiritual counselors, Chaplains, priests, lay ministers or other spiritual counselors can provide spiritual care and guidance for the entire family. Social workers provide counseling and support. They can also provide referrals to other support systems. Pharmacists provide medication oversight and suggestions regarding the most effective
The hospice aide’s job duties varies depending on the patient. If the hospice patient is in good condition, the job duties are very similar to that of the nursing home CNA. The hospice aide’s main goal is to maintain the patient’s dignity while providing the most comforting care possible. Many hospice patients are referring to as being on “comfort cares” – meaning if they don’t want to eat, they aren’t forced to. The hospice aide’s job is a hard one, as any CNA’s is, but perhaps more so, as they lose their patients at a higher
Hospice Care refers to the focus on quality of care and life rather than treatment and curative options for someone and their disease. This type of care includes not only the patient, but also their family and physician. Dame Cicely Saunders states, “You matter because of who you are. You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.” With this quote, Saunders reflects what Hospice believes in and their commitment, or duty, for the patient. Patients who are terminally ill can be considered as patients with cancer, diabetes, and many more diseases. Very few cancer patients have a type of cancer that has a known cure, and unlike those patients many other cancer patients possess a type of cancer that is curable today. Terminally ill patients have to choose between continuing treatment or being provided with Hospice Care. Both hope and Hospice means that the patient can have both the benefit from treatments, which give them hope that the disease could be cured or at least reduce the symptoms, and Hospice Care, which provides the patients with relieve of pain and
The history and name hospice got its name from hospitality. In 1967, Dr. Cecily Saunders evented the first hospice was which was used for people who were terminally ill. However, the Hasting center Report, shows that in 1973, hospice emerges in the United State, and was used as a concept of care and not a place of care. Hospice upholds life and neither speeds nor postpones death. They offer palliative care to people with end of stage of life regardless of their age, gender, nationality, race, sexual orientation, etc. Hospice believes that proper care to the community will help patients and their families to be mentally and spiritually prepared for the death of their love ones. They provide 24/7 care in either home or facility base setting. The care of hospice is for patients who have chronic illness and have six month or less to live (NHPCO, 2012). Opiates mediation is used to treat pain. Hospice offer palliative care service to their patients to improve the quality of life. The primary goal is to control patient’s pain, symptoms management, and improve the quality of life (NHPCO, 2012). Hospice also provides bereavement services for families who have lost their love one. This is to help the family to cope with death. The bereavement services last for about a year or thirteen months after patients die. Families are offered individual counseling or support group (NHPCO, 2012).
G’s inpatient care. The key principles to work on are 1) Focus on the quality of life- Many people who are living with a terminal illness often talk about quality of life and strive to retain control over it. It is important for us to understand what does quality of life actually mean to each patient and how can we contribute to attain or maintain the goal. 2) Take into account the patient’s past life experience and current situation- Experiences shape and make us the person we are today, but they also shape our views and expectations of a situation. It is easy to talk about the ‘here and now’ with patients whilst failing to pick up on the vast richness of their past and questioning from where their ideas and views have arisen. 3) Care which encompasses the dying patient and those who matter to them- There is no easy task when each individual may have entirely different needs, may be at different stages of acceptance and understanding of the situation, and different expectations of what healthcare professionals are able to offer. Good communication, skills and expertise of the palliative care multi-disciplinary team is the key to offer a support network for those who involved in patient’s care. 4) Respect patient’s autonomy and choice- Sometimes, we may find that our own values are challenged in a way that patient may not always make decisions which we believed to be in their best interest. If the patient is thought to be competent
Hospice is giving dignity, support and love to end of life patients. Hospice works with the patient’s pain to give the patient comfort, not to hurry death or hasten the dying process, but to relieve symptoms that are sometimes associated with grief and dying. In my experience, I have witness the positive effects associated with comfort care for both patients and love ones. Dying patients grieve for various reasons. Sometimes it is mentally, physically, emotional or psychological and it affects their love ones as well as their level of comfort. Our promise to every patient we take care of is “To provide exceptional care, to guide the patient and their family on their journey, and to respect their choices. Their comfort, needs and wishes come first. They can count on us when and where they need us” (Hospice and Palliative Care, 2013).
My first encounter with hospice was on the receiving end and I remember asking the hospice nurse that first day, “How can you do this every day?” I will never forget her answer, “Hospice is not about dying, it’s about affirming life, helping people live their last days to the fullest.” During the next several months, I began to understand how true her words were. Today, as a volunteer, those words echo in my mind each time I’m about to meet a new patient.
Over recent years there have been studies to explain why terminally ill patients wish to die. However, there is a lack of understanding of the importance of a “wish to die”. There is a lack of meaning or reasoning from the patients that “wish to die”. We need a clear distinction of the meaning of a “wish to die” from the patients of the study.
... that the nurse or family can do. The goal for palliative care is to make the patient’s passing as comfortable and relaxing, as possible. Medication management should be provided for every patient that is having pain to allow for a more comforting, pain-free, and peaceful death.
The end-of-life nurse’s primary objective is to provide comfort and compassion to patients and their families during an extremely difficult time. They must satisfy all “physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs” of the patient and their family. (Wu & Volker, 2012) The nurse involves their patient in care planning, as well as educating them about the options available. They must follow the wishes of the patient and their family, as provided in the patient’s advance directive if there is one available. It is i...