Hospice Care For Cancer Patients In Antioch City, California
In the event that a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, the person’s family, as well as their caregivers, are confronted with a variety of difficult decisions. One of these decisions will most likely be whether or not to initiate hospice care at this time. In addition to providing patients and their families with an improved quality of life through hospice and pain management, hospice care also has the purpose of making a person more comfortable as they approach the latter months of their lives.
In many ways, hospice care for cancer patients is similar to hospice care for other illnesses, with the exception that it is more explicitly focused on addressing cancer-specific symptoms. Hospice care for cancer patients entails the provision of a specialized support team of experts who have been trained to assist cancer patients, as well as the provision of any medication or equipment that may be required to help maintain a cancer patient’s quality of life.
Your loved one’s home or assisted living facility will be visited on a regular basis by a hospice nurse who will assist with pain management in hospice and palliative care and other cancer symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing and nausea. This enables your loved one to continue to participate in day-to-day activities while also receiving care. Also included are services to assist your loved one with tasks that have become too difficult for them to do on their own, such as personal hygiene, meal preparation and light housekeeping.
The team will also comprise of members who will provide non-medical support. Those working in hospice care will, for example, aid your family in coping with the dynamics of the situation as well as finances, emotions and documentation, including advance directives if they are required. They may also be able to put you in touch with additional services that will help you cope better with your situation. While your loved one is undergoing through a very tough process of dying, hospice volunteers will be there to provide companionship and spiritual support counsellors will be accessible to offer prayer and advice throughout the process.
The Need for Resources and Education for Cancer Patients and Their Families
Even after care has ended, cancer patients and their families may still be coping with severe emotional, spiritual and psychological issues, as well as physical pain. Our service was established to provide assistance to patients and their families. In order to best aid the patient and their loved ones, we can do the following:
It's time To Call Hospice
When cancer treatments are no longer successful and a cure or remission appear to be out of the question, hospice care may be the greatest alternative available to patients. It is possible that some patients will have complex medical needs and that their families will have strong opinions about how they should be cared for in the future. Accurate assessment, as well as a multidisciplinary team to care for the patient’s wants and wishes, as well as those of their family members, are among the most crucial components of the process. When cancer therapy is no longer an option for a patient, hospice care is provided to the patient and his or her family. Mental, physical and spiritual needs of the patient and their family are met through this method of care.
Patients with cancer in the final stage are expected to live for less than six months after being diagnosed. Physicians look for certain symptoms that show that the disease has progressed to this point in the patient’s life, such as swelling or pain in the abdomen.
In the following situations:
- Treatment is less effective or ineffective altogether, and there is no expectation of improvement;
- The illness or cancer is progressing in severity;
- The emotional, physical and spiritual toll that therapy takes on the patient and his or her family outweighs the anticipated benefits.
It is customary for physicians to counsel and refer patients to hospice providers when they believe that they have six months or fewer to live in their own right. Patients and their families may be more aware about hospice care and may seek an examination to establish whether hospice is a viable option for their care at any point in the process. This is a significant issue of quality of life that needs to be addressed as soon as feasible rather than waiting until the last minute. Hospice services may be available for a few weeks or for several months depending on the situation. Call Melodia Care Hospice today to find out more about how we can assist you in making this incredibly important decision and to learn more about our services.
Hospice Care Has A Number Of Advantages
Because of hospice care, patients with cancer and their families have reported a significant improvement in their overall quality of life. Pain and symptom reduction are frequently reported by patients, which allows them to spend more time with their families and even participate in regular activities. Aside from providing much-needed socialization, hospice care can also enable patients to interact with others through therapy groups and other cancer-related activities, allowing them to meet new people and establish new relationships with people who are not in their immediate family. Patients with cancer can maintain their independence and comfort while receiving hospice care, allowing them to feel more like themselves as they transition through this stage of life and into the next.
The hospice care system provides families with access to a vital source of information and specialized knowledge that is otherwise unavailable. If you have any questions, the staff caring for your loved one can help you by answering them, introducing you to new care methods and advocating with doctors on your behalf to ensure that your loved one receives the best possible care. Additionally, if you require it, it is possible to be connected with counsellors, support groups and other resources for your family members. For those who require assistance with their loved ones, hospice and pain management can provide a form of respite care for many families who require it. Aside from caring for their loved ones, many primary caregivers also have full-time jobs, children and other responsibilities to attend to. It is possible that allowing a hospice team to take on some of the care will allow primary caregivers to complete many of these other responsibilities more quickly.
Changing The Emphasis From Quantity To Quality Of Life
Cancer can be excruciatingly painful and it can have side effects that can have a negative impact on one’s ability to live life to the fullest extent possible after being diagnosed. The severe side effects of any medicine or therapy used in conjunction with this type of care may necessitate prolonged hospitalizations or the confinement of a patient under this type of care, depending on the circumstances. As a result, some patients may come to the conclusion that having a better quality of life for whatever time they have left is more important to them than having a longer lifespan. Care for a terminal illness may no longer be a viable option but hospice care may be a realistic option to improve the overall quality of life for a patient in that situation. Through participation in hospice services, patients can live as fully and comfortable a life as they possibly can during the final months of their illness.
Hospice personnel will make certain that a patient’s home is accessible and that his or her needs are met in the patient’s current setting, which may be at home, in a hospice community or in another long-term or specialized care, among other things. To ensure that the patient retains as much comfort and mobility as it is reasonably possible, providers may need to provide additional equipment such as a portable oxygen tank, a hospital bed or other pieces of equipment. Furthermore, hospice personnel can ensure that patients receive the appropriate medications, services and materials in order to maintain their dignity.
A patient’s decision to receive hospice care indicates that they have made the decision to discontinue curative medical therapy at some point in their lives. As a result, many types of cancer may be eliminated, allowing the patient to concentrate on pain control and being comfortable rather than fighting the disease. In some cases, patients may be able to enjoy life more fully if they are not subjected to excessive pain or the side effects of harsh medications and care. As a result, the patient can spend their recovery time doing things that they enjoy, such as spending time with family and friends, going outside to enjoy the fresh air or doing anything else that they are capable of doing while recovering from their illness.
Maintaining a high level of quality of life for as long as possible during their remaining time on this planet is frequently a top priority for patients suffering from life-limiting illnesses. People who have endured painful therapies for an extended period of time require a great deal of comfort and support during the final months of their medical care. The time may have come for you to consider hospice care as a viable option if you have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and want to focus on improving your quality of life instead of prolonging your life.
You can reach us at any time of day or night by contacting us through our 24/7 online customer support chat or by calling 1-888 635-6347 (MELODI-7).