When you select Capital Hospice, the focus of medical care shifts—from searching for a cure to providing expert pain and symptom management, also known as palliative care. This special kind of care enables you to enjoy the best quality of life possible during this time.
Right away, you will notice two major differences about hospice care:
In other words, we address the many emotional, financial, and spiritual concerns that arise during end of life as well as providing the very best in palliative medical care.
This team approach, which is unique to hospice, relieves much of the stress inherent in caring for a loved one at home. As you and your loved ones face the hard choices ahead, you have the comfort of knowing that you have access to a wide range of knowledge, compassion, and experience.
After assessing your situation, the Capital Hospice team draws up a comprehensive but individualized Plan of Care that everyone—hospice team members and family members—will follow. The first question to answer is one that the team will continue to ask throughout: “Where are we in the course of this illness?”
The Plan of Care provides the goals — physically, emotionally, and interpersonally for the patient and family. It brings much-needed clarity and structure to a time of great stress, anxiety and family upheaval. Every team member who works with you has a copy of your Plan of Care, which is continually updated throughout your hospice experience.
The Plan of Care is developed in close consultation with you and your loved ones. Respecting the wishes of patient and loved ones is a bedrock value of hospice care.
Here are the members of the interdisciplinary hospice team:
You select your doctor. Your primary care physician will continue in that role, or you can select a hospice physician—it’s up to you. In either case, the doctor must sign off on all treatment orders and plans recommended by the hospice team.
Capital Hospice nurses provide the complete spectrum of skilled nursing care. They call frequently and make regular visits to monitor your condition, manage medications, provide injections, and answer medical questions. They also handle the all-important work of teaching family members how to care for you.
As case manager, the nurse coordinates the work of the entire hospice team.
The CNA spends the most time in the home setting. He or she helps the caregiver by providing personal care such as bathing the patient, changing linens, tidying-up the patient’s room, etc.
The medical social worker provides help with often-changing emotional, medical, and financial concerns. An experienced counselor and expert on community resources, the social worker also can facilitate family communication, arrange support for caregivers, and help to find financial and legal assistance. The social worker can help with issues related to Medicare, private insurance, and Advance Medical Directives.
The non-denominational chaplain can provide assistance in many areas: spiritual counseling for people of all faiths, planning services, offering communion, and serving as a liaison between the family and clergy in the community. You or your loved one can request the services of a chaplain at any time, though this service is completely optional.
The dietician can offer expert direction on nutrition questions. He or she also can provide advice—by phone or via a home visit—on difficult feeding problems.
Bereavement support and services are offered to family members and loved ones for more than a year after death. These include support groups, individual counseling, and educational workshops. The bereavement coordinator supports your loved ones through the grieving process.
These specially trained volunteers are an incredible resource. They offer assistance with personal care and household tasks, such as cleaning or food shopping and preparation. They can run errands. And they can provide a few hours of respite care, giving the caregiver a much-needed break.
You and your loved ones are key members of the team. You have chosen us to accompany you on a very special journey, and we respect your concerns and desires at every step. We will provide you with all the information needed to make the best choices for you and your loved ones.
Hospice services are provided in your home setting, whether that is a private residence, apartment, assisted living or long-term care facility, or nursing home.
The caregiver cares for you; the hospice team supports the caregiver. The nurse and CNA make the most regular visits. They monitor the patient and family, teach personal care skills, and anticipate changes in the patient’s condition and needs.
The Capital Hospice team teaches your loved ones everything needed to provide you with excellent quality care.
After business hours and on holidays, caregivers can call a staff nurse who has electronic access to your hospice medical record. This After Hours Care nurse will listen to concerns and offer expert advice. If needed, she will dispatch a field nurse to make an emergency home visit.
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