When I began working at Aspire Home Health and Hospice, I realized I was very under-educated on what exactly hospice care is. In my mind, home health and hospice were, for all intents and purposes, identical. Oh, how wrong I was. After working with Aspire for a couple of months, I feel I have a better idea of what hospice is, and I think that many people have some of the same misunderstandings I had. Today, I will do my best to explain what hospice care is, why it’s so important, and how it differs from home health care.
What is Hospice Care?
The definition of hospice care is health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s pain and symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. Hospice care prioritizes comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering. The goal of hospice care is not to prolong life; it is to make the end of the patient’s life as comfortable and fulfilling as possible.
How is Hospice Care Different from Home Health Care?
Home Health Care occurs when a patient cannot safely leave their home independently but still needs frequent medical attention. The diagnoses for home health patients are not terminal and typically occur after a surgery or injury. Home health aims to nurse the patient back to health and help them regain their independence. On the other hand, hospice care only occurs when a doctor or physician says a patient will die within six months. You can read this blog to find more information on the differences between Hospice and Home Health care.
Why is Hospice Care so Important?
When a patient receives a terminal diagnosis, continued attempts to prolong life can be excruciating on the patient and take a tremendous toll on the patient’s family. While on hospice care, patients are cared for and can live out their final days in comfort, experiencing as little pain as possible. We also provide grief counseling to help assist in the emotional, social, and physical response to end-of-life care.
To learn more about the care Aspire Home Health and Hospice provides, you can visit the Hospice section of our website. Additionally, our skilled staff is always available to answer questions. Give us a call today!
