At Advantage Health Systems Hospice, our goal is to promote emotional, spiritual, and physical well being at the end of life. Hospice care is not about giving up in any way. Our interdisciplinary team strives to meet your needs and helps manage patients’ discomfort. Additionally, our Hospice team provides patients and families with services that will allow the patient with an opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones along with providing patients the opportunity to remember the meaningful moments.
PHYSICIAN SERVICES
Hospice Medical Directors, physicians, work alongside our team to oversee care, and assist with managing pain as well as other symptoms.
The hospice medical director and contracted physician(s) are responsible for the palliation and management of one’s terminal illness and any conditions related to the terminal illness. Our healthcare professionals are comfortable in partnering with one’s primary physician, if he/she would like to continue overseeing one’s care. However, if one’s attending physician is not available, the contracted physician with Advantage Health Systems is responsible for meeting your medical needs.
NURSING
As a patient, an RN case manager is assigned whom will coordinate care amongst the interdisciplinary team and handle any medical needs. The nurse’s role is to help prevent and relieve pain, other symptoms, and to provide education for caregivers to provide appropriate care. Also, case manager’s manage all necessary medical supplies or equipment are ordered and closely monitor medications. Our nurses conduct regular communication with the assigned physician to ensure up to date of one’s status, and plan of care is being followed accordingly.
It is the excellent work and dedication of our hospice nurse that will anticipate one’s needs in encouraging the ease or natural progression of one’s illness. Here at Advantage Health Systems hospice, it is our hope that this exert identifies our staff’s want to provide exceptional, well-rounded care.
SOCIAL WORKER
Facing a serious illness can be a time of tremendous pain and confusion for you and your family. Because you must deal with emotions and challenges throughout the time in which the illness is occurring, a social worker may be assigned to help you and your family.
• Providing emotional support, counseling and guidance to the patient and family in coping with stress related to the illness;
• Identifying community resources which are available to help you;
• Assisting the patient and family with planning for funeral arrangements, nursing home placement, etc.; and
• Offering information about Advance Directives.
SPIRITUAL COUNSELING
Hospice spiritual care is based on a high respect for the patients' and caregivers' personal faith and belief. The hospice spiritual counselor is available to assist patients and families cope with the significant spiritual issues that often arise during terminal illness. The services offered include regular pastoral care visits, being on-call and available for crises, conducting funerals and memorial services as requested, and contacting a patient's own clergy, pastoral counselor or other individuals for additional support, if desired. The hospice spiritual counselor does not impose his/her personal belief systems or seek to change the beliefs of others.
PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE
Our hospice aide/homemaker services are provided under the supervision of a registered nurse to patients who have a need for personal care on a part-time basis. Our hospice aides have experience in caring for people in need and have been carefully chosen to provide care for the patients of the hospice. The hospice aide assists with the patient's personal care, including bathing, hair care, shaving, skin care, linen changes, catheter care and straightening the patient's immediate surroundings. Hospice aides are not allowed to dispense medication. They will report any changes in the condition of the patient to the appropriate team member. The nurse schedules their visits. Days may vary to meet the patient's needs.
MUSIC THERAPY
In life, sound affects our physical and mental health. It affects important functions that we may not know are beyond our control including blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, and the release of natural analgesic chemicals from the body.
Even when people are no longer awake or talking, we can comfort them with music. Studies have shown that music is the first external sensation associated with a developing fetus, and the ability to listen to and benefit from music is the last sensation associated with transitioning patients.
PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, & SPEECH THERAPY
Services are provided by a licensed therapist or licensed therapy assistant under the direction of the therapist. Therapy services may be provided only as reasonable and necessary for symptom control or to enable you to maintain activities of daily living and basic functional skills in accordance with the hospice philosophy. These services must be approved by the Hospice Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), and may not be appropriate for all hospice patients.
VOLUNTEERS
A vital part of hospice is the carefully selected and well-trained volunteers working alongside the professional staff. These special people provide many different types of support for the hospice program and those coping with terminal illness, grief and loss. They are good listeners, nonjudgmental, adaptable and have a strong desire to reach out with love and concern to others. Volunteers may be used on a regular schedule or on a call when needed.
DIETARY COUNSELING
Dietary counseling may be provided by a dietitian, nurse or other qualified staff member to address and ensure that your dietary needs are met.
GRIEF AND LOSS
Bereavement Counselors are there for the families of the patient to ensure they receive emotional support both during and after the patient has passed away. We provide these to the caregivers, friends, and family of our patients, as well as the general community at no cost. Please call 858-547-0077 for support, we have supportive care available 24 hours a day.
Support groups
Telephone contact
Cards letters
Bereavement literature mailings
Memorial services
Individual & family counseling
Referral for support groups, long-term individual/family counseling or other needed services