Understanding the ins and outs of hospice care and how it can help your loved ones will help you make educated decisions for their care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services defined four levels of hospice care, each offering its own set of qualities meeting the specific needs of patients. We’ll discuss each level of care so you can equip yourself with this knowledge.
The Four Levels of Hospice Care Explained
Hospice consists of four levels of care to adequately address each patient’s specific needs and requests. At West Michigan Hospice, we’re experts in this field, and we’re here to support you and your family. We’ll explain the four levels of hospice care so you can feel comfortable and supported.
1. In-Home Hospice Care – wherever you call home.
Some patients may choose to have hospice care in the comfort of their own homes – wherever that might be. Some pateints live in their own home, while others live in another family members home. Others call an Assisted Living Facility or a Skilled Nursing Facility home.
For individuals in an ALF or SNF hospice workers provide an extra set of eyes and ears for the patient and family. Our team advocates and directs care in facilities where they are often short-staffed and need guidance on caring for individuals with advanced, progressive diseases.
The benefit is that the patient may feel more at ease and dignified. At home, the patient will receive care aimed at increasing their comfort and quality of life as much as possible. The care and treatments will be intermittent based on the patient’s wants and needs.
In-home hospice care can include pain management, symptom management, emotional and spiritual counseling, assistance with daily tasks, therapeutic services, and nutritional services. Wherever the patient calls home, hospice care can be provided there. This could include their personal home, a family member’s home, a skilled nursing facility, a nursing home, or an assisted living facility.
2. Continuous Hospice Care
When it’s medically necessary, hospice providers offer treatments around the clock – this is continuous hospice care. Also known as crisis care, 24/7 hospice care treats a patient’s acute symptoms with the goal of avoiding hospitalization.
Continuous hospice care usually comes into play after a patient undergoes a medical crisis or their symptoms require management at all times of the day and night. One of the benefits of continuous care is that family members can take a step back from the role of caregiver, let the medical professionals do their job, and enjoy quality time with their loved ones.
3. Inpatient Hospice Care
Inpatient hospice care is suggested if a patient’s symptoms cannot be adequately managed at home. They’ll be able to receive 24/7 support and be as comfortable as possible. The goal of inpatient hospice care is to control pain and stabilize symptoms until they can safely return home, where they can continue care there.
Some patients opt to remain in inpatient hospice care and don’t return home. One advantage of inpatient care is that it can be administered in a safe, neutral, nurturing environment where family and friends can visit and spend time with them as they choose.
4. Respite Care
Respite care is a type of hospice care that offers short-term relief for a patient’s primary caregivers. During respite care, patients will spend a certain amount of time receiving care from hospice professionals to assist with their symptoms. This could be arranged for as little as a couple of hours up to several weeks. The care can happen at home or in a facility.
Respite care can be beneficial for patients’ family members. If they’re spending most of their time being the primary caregiver, this will give them a much-needed break. It will help them avoid burnout and, as a result, allow them to provide better care in the future.
Determining the Right Level of Hospice Care For Your Loved One
We know that navigating the end-of-life journey for a family member or loved one is never easy, but we’re here to help. Our experienced team will work with you to determine the appropriate level of hospice care for the patient. Our team is full of experts who have proven experience caring for patients with various conditions in various stages. No matter which of the four levels of hospice care they need, you can always be sure they’ll receive the best possible medical care and emotional support.
West Michigan Hospice is here to support you. For more information about how we could help you and your family, give us a call or contact us online.