November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and this year’s theme, “It’s about how you live,” resonates with our mission at Alliance Homecare.
We believe people at the end of life deserve complete comfort and dignity, which underscores our commitment to connecting clients to superior hospice and palliative services.
At this stage of life, enhancing quality care means eradicating pain. In a national survey of seriously ill people, bereaved family members, and health care providers, freedom from pain was rated as one of the most important factors leading to a peaceful death1.
Hospice and palliative pain management, however, isn’t simple. It often involves a variety of medical professionals and is best supported by expert home health care services.
Pain is a complex problem that requires creative solutions. As death approaches, pain control moves beyond the physical and becomes a multifaceted symptom that touches emotional, social, and spiritual realms. A recent study from American Family Physician reported that the prevalence of pain increases in the last four months of life and needs frequent monitoring and care plan adjustment2.
Our experts Care Managers start the pain conversation early, as research shows the importance of early intervention and immediate treatment. We use validated pain assessment tools, with attention to patient function and specific goals, to tailor end-of-life care plans as often as necessary.
Most people express a preference to die outside of an institutional setting. We help make this final wish a reality. Just as “It’s about how you live,” it’s also about how you die. As our clients approach their last years of life, our care goals focus on complete comfort rather than disease management. We celebrate quality, compassionate end-of-life care every month of year.
Click here to learn more about hospice care or call 1.877.687.7380 to speak to a Care Manager today.
References: 1. Steinhauser KE, Christakis NA, Clipp EC, McNeilly M, McIntyre L, Tulsky JA. Factors Considered Important at the End of Life by Patients, Family, Physicians, and Other Care Providers. JAMA. 2000;284(19):2476–2482. doi:10.1001/jama.284.19.2476. 2. Groninger, H, Vijayan, JA. Pharmacologic Management of Pain at the End of Life. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Jul 1;90(1):26-32.
