Often patients and families are surprised to learn that it is possible for patients to remain comfortable, free from pain, and allowed to die in familiar surroundings.

1. Home Care Services
   • Home care offers support, nursing care, communication and teaching to the patient and his/her family.
   • Allows family to participate in the care, therefore giving family and patient more control.
   • Home care is less expensive than hospital care.
   • Can be exhausting: 24 hour care seven days a week!
   • Team concept vital to maintain family support and form an emotional bond with the family. People with different skills work together to plan and coordinate care.

2. Continuous Home Care
   • Only during a period of crisis as necessary to maintain patient at home.
   • Period of crisis is period in which a patient requires predominately nursing care to achieve palliation or management of acute medical symptoms.
   • Hospice must provide a minimum of 8 hours of care during a 24-hour day (begins and ends at midnight).
   • Does not have to be “Continuous.”
   • A Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse must provide nursing care for more than half of the period of care.
   • Homemaker or home health aide services may be provided to supplement the nursing care.

3. General Inpatient Care
   • Patient can by anywhere within the hospital.
   • Interdisciplinary team share care given with the hospital staff.
   • The Hospice Plan of Care is followed during the hospitalization.

4. Palliative Care Units
   • Separate unit for patients with terminal illness.
   • Patients receive non-aggressive treatment.

5. In-patient Hospice Facility
   • Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 12-bed facility.
   • Provides all services needed in a family-like atmosphere.

6. Hospice in a Skilled Care Facility
   • Hospice contracted by Skilled Nursing Facility.
   • Hospice team provides hospice oriented care to the patient.

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