Whether you are a patient or a caregiver, it can be difficult and overwhelming to search for a home health care or hospice care provider. The type of care that you receive is reliant on what your goals are for patient care. Your health care provider should provide you direction of what service is appropriate to seek for you or your loved one’s needs, however it is important to understand and distinguish the difference between the two types of care for your own comfort and peace of mind.
Hospice care is a special type of care that focuses on the quality of life for patients who are experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness, and their caregivers. Hospice care provides compassionate care for patients in the last phases of incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible. The hospice philosophy accepts death as the final stage of life and while it affirms life, it does not try to hasten or postpone death. Hospice care treats the patient and symptoms of the disease, rather than treating the disease itself. Comfort is the ultimate goal in this type of care.
Home health is a physician-ordered service designed to enable patients to maximize their ability to function safely at home by teaching patients and their caregivers how to provide effective, appropriate care. Symptom and disease management, medication management, nutrition, activity, mobility, stress management, home safety issues and a wide range of educational resources are among the many needs covered by a home health care service or program.
Home health care and hospice care can share some similarities, however these two approaches to care have very different goals regarding the priorities and care of the patients. Home health care prioritizes recovery from an injury or illness, while hospice care is focused on providing comfort care to a patient with an advanced illness when curative treatment is no longer effective or preferred.
Once you and/or your health care provider determine the type of care that you should seek, the next step is to find the right home health or hospice care provider. If a referral is not provided by your primary healthcare provider, start by searching for local home health or hospice care providers in your area. Once you have a list of the providers available in your area, you can inquire about the qualifications necessary to receive care and find the best fit for your needs.
Doctor’s Choice Home Care & Hospice is a team of trusted professionals committed to caring for our employees, patients, their families, friends and loved ones. We provide expertise in hospital-to-home transitions, recovery, management of chronic illnesses, helping individuals achieve their highest level of health and comfort at home, and maintaining the quality of remaining life. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your eligibility to qualify for care by Doctor’s Choice Home Care & Hospice.
Please call us at (833) 365-CHOICE (2464) and ask for our Administrator.
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