What is Hospice?
 Focuses on the patient's comfort
rather than aggressive
medical treatment.
Strives to help people enjoy life and
make the most of
every day.
Provides special and individualized
supportive care to
the patient and family
Team effort involving doctors, nurses,
nursing
assistants, physical therapists, nutritionists, social
workers, volunteers, and chaplains who work together
to provide the patient and family with comfort and
fullness of
life.
Enables the dying and grieving period to
be a time of
understanding, sharing, and togetherness.
Provides consistent care to patients and
their families.
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For those who do not want aggressive
treatment or are not ready
psychologically for hospice the
Palliative Program provides staff
continuity for transition to
hospice. Patients must meet the home
health criteria of homebound and skilled need.
Factors to Initiate a Palliative
Plan of Care:
Weight loss over the past 2-3 months
Diminished quality of life as
assessed by patient and family,
evidenced by reduction in activities of daily
living
Determination to interrupt
treatment which prolongs the dying
process or treatment whose negative outcome outweighs
potential benefits. This determination is made by
patient,
family, representative of patient, or person with power of
attorney.
Decreased appetite/nutritional
intake over the past 2-3
months.
Decreased cognitive abilities over
the past 2-3 months
Observable, documented change in
condition over the past 2-3
months.
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