Denton County Living Well Magazine January/February 2022 | Page 40

OLIVIA ROGERS is a leading voice in health care and senior services and the Chief Nursing Officer of VNA Texas .
Dear Olivia , We are considering starting our mother on hospice services sometime soon , as her physician thinks that it might be time to keep her at home and prevent any further hospitalizations . She has been frail for some time now and he feels she may need this extra layer of support and care . How do we know when the time is right ? Also , are there any supports our family can receive if we need to go out of town to see our grown children while she is on hospice service ?
-Difficult decisions
Dear Difficult decisions , It is often a difficult decision to put a loved one on hospice service , even when we know that may be the best way to provide the appropriate level of care . Skilled hospice care can provide comprehensive , holistic care to both the patient and family when someone is facing a terminal illness or condition .
Starting hospice at the right time is important to ensure that the care team has a chance to get to know the patient and family and establish the best plan of care possible . The “ right time ” to transition someone to hospice is different for every family , but two important considerations are whether further aggressive treatment is desired , and if the patient would want to return to the hospital . If the answer to both questions is no , then this is often the right time to choose hospice care .
In terms of travel , one of the best benefits of hospice for families is a service called respite care . This is one of the levels of care we can provide . This allows a patient to stay in an inpatient setting , such as a nursing facility , for up to five consecutive days for caregiver relief . This means that the family can travel , see other loved ones , or even just have a much-needed respite from caregiving , knowing that their loved one is safe and being checked on daily by hospice staff . Hospice really can help families take care of loved ones as they navigate the challenges of endof-life care .
~ Olivia
Hospice & Palliative Care
Ann ’ s Haven
N I J H
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VNA Hospice Care focuses on living life to its fullest and treating you with the dignity and respect you deserve . As a nonprofit , our bottom line is patient support and care provided by our highly qualified staff .
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38 • JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022