Hospice care
Hospice is appropriate for patients with a life limiting illness and usually with a life expectancy of 6 months or less. Of course, no one can predict the exact course of a terminal illness and there are patients who are in hospice longer than 6 months, unfortunately because of fear, lack of understanding and lack of communication, most people have hospice services only a very short period of time, sometimes days. This denies the patient and loved ones the full services that hospice can offer. I suggest you contact a local hospice and have someone come in and have an honest discussion with your loved one and you so you can make an informed decision.
Hospice care is for people who can no longer benefit from regular medical treatment and are likely in their final months of life. Instead of continuing to try curing or delaying the fatal disease or condition, hospice ends curative treatment altogether. Instead, its goal is to control pain and other symptoms and make the patient's last stretch of life as comfortable as possible. Hospice can result in a significant improvement in the patient's quality of life, with a focus on her as a person rather than on her disease because it can support both the patient and the family for weeks and months, not just the final days.
Note. Loss of weight and inability to eat are markers for qualifying for Hospice care.
Hospice care isn't necessarily continuous, and a patient may switch into and out of it as a medical condition improves or deteriorates. For example, if a patient is in hospice care and goes into remission -- a period of relief from the symptoms of an illness -- the hospice care can be stopped, only to be resumed again if the symptoms reoccur or the condition gets worse.
How is hospice care delivered?
Hospice care can be received at home; someone can also receive this end-of-life care in a hospital, nursing home, or private hospice facility. Which is best depends on a patient's physical condition, whether the home is suited to providing hospice care, and the resources available in your community.
Hospice care isn't necessarily continuous, and a patient may switch into and out of it as a medical condition improves or deteriorates. For example, if a patient is in hospice care and goes into remission -- a period of relief from the symptoms of an illness -- the hospice care can be stopped, only to be resumed again if the symptoms reoccur or the condition gets worse.
Hopewell Hospice Services Inc.
88 Allied Drive, Arundel Qld 4214 PO Box 1290, Runaway Bay Qld 4216
Tel (07) 5563 2930 Fax (07) 5563 3139 email: [email protected]
www.hopewell.org.au
Palliative Care and Holistic Symptom Management
For those living with an advanced; progressive illness where active curative treatment is no longer possible and who are not able to stay in or return to their previous home. Family and friends are welcomed and there are no fixed visiting hours.
Referral: Hopewell’s nurse-led model of care means that referrals can be made directly to the Hospice – by you, the family, a GP or other health professional. A nurse can then visit you prior to admission.
The Hopewell Outreach Service provides social and emotional support, and some respite care, for people who are providing palliative care for a loved one at home. Respite is limited as to when we have a vacancy. Preferred minimum 5 days. Respite care is sometimes available. Worth asking... especially over the Christmas period.
Costs of Living at Hopewell:
As a Licensed Private Health Facility, Hopewell Hospice is able to bulk bill the Funds of those with Private Health Insurance. This covers all costs apart for an administration fees at entry. A contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs covers all costs for DVA pensioners. For those without private health insurance, accommodation fees can be negotiated.
Services:
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to learn more visit http://www.kindredhealthcare.com/what-we-do/patient-and-caregiver/blog/2016/10/20/hospice-care--what-you-may-not-know/
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End of Life Law in Australia provides accurate, practical and relevant information to assist you in navigating the challenging legal issues that can arise with end of life decision-making.
As Australia’s population rapidly ages, legal and ethical issues at the end of life are arising more frequently. Research shows the law in this area is complex and often confusing for patients, families and health professionals, and that barriers to accessible information exist. Our goal is to support the community to know, and better understand, the law at end of life, enhance patient and family participation in decision-making, and improve end of life experiences.
The End of Life Law in Australia website seeks to assist people at all stages of life whether they are dealing with an end of life situation personally, or educating themselves about the law in this area. It addresses some frequently asked questions such as:
Laws relating to death, dying and decision-making can be complicated, and vary between Australian States and Territories. To help you navigate these laws and this website, the legal overview summarises key concepts. Where possible, this website provides external links to relevant publications, forms, organisations and other resources in each Australian State and Territory
Find out more about the law at end of life
For more information about the law at the end of life, select a topic below:
This website is an initiative of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research. It is designed to be used by patients, families, health and legal practitioners, the media, policymakers and the broader community to access information about Australian laws relating to death, dying and decision-making at the end of life.
These laws are very complex, particularly in Australia where the law differs between States and Territories, and where areas of uncertainty about the law exist. This website provides you with a broad introduction to these laws. It can also help you stay up to date with Recent Developments in the end of life area.
26 May 2017
We, the families, are Deeply Grateful for this website. Something that most of us were not aware of. Many thanks.
Hospice is appropriate for patients with a life limiting illness and usually with a life expectancy of 6 months or less. Of course, no one can predict the exact course of a terminal illness and there are patients who are in hospice longer than 6 months, unfortunately because of fear, lack of understanding and lack of communication, most people have hospice services only a very short period of time, sometimes days. This denies the patient and loved ones the full services that hospice can offer. I suggest you contact a local hospice and have someone come in and have an honest discussion with your loved one and you so you can make an informed decision.
Hospice care is for people who can no longer benefit from regular medical treatment and are likely in their final months of life. Instead of continuing to try curing or delaying the fatal disease or condition, hospice ends curative treatment altogether. Instead, its goal is to control pain and other symptoms and make the patient's last stretch of life as comfortable as possible. Hospice can result in a significant improvement in the patient's quality of life, with a focus on her as a person rather than on her disease because it can support both the patient and the family for weeks and months, not just the final days.
Note. Loss of weight and inability to eat are markers for qualifying for Hospice care.
Hospice care isn't necessarily continuous, and a patient may switch into and out of it as a medical condition improves or deteriorates. For example, if a patient is in hospice care and goes into remission -- a period of relief from the symptoms of an illness -- the hospice care can be stopped, only to be resumed again if the symptoms reoccur or the condition gets worse.
How is hospice care delivered?
- Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make decisions for the terminally ill individual.
- Members of the hospice staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care or other services.
- Hospice staff is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- The hospice team develops a care plan that meets each patient’s individual needs for pain management and symptom control.
- This interdisciplinary team usually consists of:
- the patient’s personal physician,
- hospice physician
- or medical director,
- nurses,
- hospice aides,
- social workers,
- bereavement counselors,
- clergy or other spiritual counselors,
- trained volunteers, and
- speech,
- physical, and
- occupational therapists, as needed.
Hospice care can be received at home; someone can also receive this end-of-life care in a hospital, nursing home, or private hospice facility. Which is best depends on a patient's physical condition, whether the home is suited to providing hospice care, and the resources available in your community.
Hospice care isn't necessarily continuous, and a patient may switch into and out of it as a medical condition improves or deteriorates. For example, if a patient is in hospice care and goes into remission -- a period of relief from the symptoms of an illness -- the hospice care can be stopped, only to be resumed again if the symptoms reoccur or the condition gets worse.
Hopewell Hospice Services Inc.
88 Allied Drive, Arundel Qld 4214 PO Box 1290, Runaway Bay Qld 4216
Tel (07) 5563 2930 Fax (07) 5563 3139 email: [email protected]
www.hopewell.org.au
Palliative Care and Holistic Symptom Management
For those living with an advanced; progressive illness where active curative treatment is no longer possible and who are not able to stay in or return to their previous home. Family and friends are welcomed and there are no fixed visiting hours.
Referral: Hopewell’s nurse-led model of care means that referrals can be made directly to the Hospice – by you, the family, a GP or other health professional. A nurse can then visit you prior to admission.
- Eight private rooms, six of which have shred en suite bathrooms. All rooms have garden outlooks, beds with electric controls, recliner chairs, TV sets, phone and wireless internet connection.
- Residents and families are encouraged to decorate individual rooms with some personal items to make them as much like being at home as possible.
The Hopewell Outreach Service provides social and emotional support, and some respite care, for people who are providing palliative care for a loved one at home. Respite is limited as to when we have a vacancy. Preferred minimum 5 days. Respite care is sometimes available. Worth asking... especially over the Christmas period.
Costs of Living at Hopewell:
As a Licensed Private Health Facility, Hopewell Hospice is able to bulk bill the Funds of those with Private Health Insurance. This covers all costs apart for an administration fees at entry. A contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs covers all costs for DVA pensioners. For those without private health insurance, accommodation fees can be negotiated.
Services:
- A modern eight-bed free-standing hospice residence in a serene garden setting.
- Highly skilled, compassionate nursing team providing holistic 24-hour palliative care.
- Monitored pain control and holistic management of symptoms.
- Emotional, spiritual and social support for residents, families and friends.
- Grief and bereavement counselling, and ongoing support for family members.
- Pastoral care for various faith traditions.
- Creative living well programs, such as stress reduction, meditation, music and art.
----------------------------------------------
to learn more visit http://www.kindredhealthcare.com/what-we-do/patient-and-caregiver/blog/2016/10/20/hospice-care--what-you-may-not-know/
----------------------------------------------
End of Life Law in Australia provides accurate, practical and relevant information to assist you in navigating the challenging legal issues that can arise with end of life decision-making.
As Australia’s population rapidly ages, legal and ethical issues at the end of life are arising more frequently. Research shows the law in this area is complex and often confusing for patients, families and health professionals, and that barriers to accessible information exist. Our goal is to support the community to know, and better understand, the law at end of life, enhance patient and family participation in decision-making, and improve end of life experiences.
The End of Life Law in Australia website seeks to assist people at all stages of life whether they are dealing with an end of life situation personally, or educating themselves about the law in this area. It addresses some frequently asked questions such as:
- Who makes medical treatment decisions for a person who is too unwell to make decisions themselves?
- Does a doctor have to follow the instructions in an advance directive?
- Can a dying patient or their family refuse or demand medical treatment needed to keep the patient alive?
- Is euthanasia and assisted suicide legal in Australia?
- Can a child with a terminal illness make their own medical treatment decisions?
- What happens if family members disagree with a person’s decision to donate their organs when they die?
Laws relating to death, dying and decision-making can be complicated, and vary between Australian States and Territories. To help you navigate these laws and this website, the legal overview summarises key concepts. Where possible, this website provides external links to relevant publications, forms, organisations and other resources in each Australian State and Territory
Find out more about the law at end of life
For more information about the law at the end of life, select a topic below:
- About
- Recent Developments
- Legal Overview
- Advance Directives
- Stopping Treatment
- Palliative Care
- Organ Donation
- Euthanasia and Assisted Dying
- Research Projects
- Publications and Presentations
This website is an initiative of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research. It is designed to be used by patients, families, health and legal practitioners, the media, policymakers and the broader community to access information about Australian laws relating to death, dying and decision-making at the end of life.
These laws are very complex, particularly in Australia where the law differs between States and Territories, and where areas of uncertainty about the law exist. This website provides you with a broad introduction to these laws. It can also help you stay up to date with Recent Developments in the end of life area.
26 May 2017
We, the families, are Deeply Grateful for this website. Something that most of us were not aware of. Many thanks.