How Hospice Helps in the Assisted
Living Setting

• Allows you the peace of mind in knowing that highly trained nurses in palliative care are assessing your patients' needs and providing you with vital information to manage their symptoms at home.
  
• RTA provides necessary documentation to meet licensure requirements such as Plan of Care.
  
• When disease progresses and clients require more assistance, demands from your staff increases, the hospice team is available to supplement their care.
  
• Continuity of care provided by a designated interdisciplinary team for each assisted living facility
  
• Plan of care is individualized for each client in accordance with the regulations identified by Medicare.
  
• Medications related to the hospice disease process are provided to you via local or national courier.
  
• Supplies are delivered by the members of your team responsible for personal physical care. i.e. Briefs, Wound Care Supplies, Gloves.
  
• Participation by the Primary Care Physician is always encouraged. Assistance from the hospice medical director is also available.
• Bereavement/memorial services are available to residents and care home staff.
  
• Hospice staff is available to provide training to your employees regarding disease process and progression, identification of symptoms and how to manage them with and without medication.
  
• Refill of medisets and narcotic medication counts weekly to assist in compliance
  

When To Refer A Patient to Hospice

• You notice a significant decline in your resident's physical or mental health status
• Your resident requires frequent visits to the MD's office or the Emergency Room
  
• Your resident's level of mobility has declined requiring frequent intervention by your staff
  
• Your patient is losing weight which is not intentional
  
• Your patient is becoming weaker and requires more assistance with activities of daily living
  
• The disease is progressing at a rapid rate or a new diagnosis has been identified
  
• Resident has recently chosen to stop aggressive treatment options
  

How Does Hospice Help the Patient?

• Hospice assists the client and the family through the end-of-life process, by providing medical, nursing, psychosocial, spiritual and volunteer services.
  
• Provides education, support, and relief of care for the patient to assist the family in their goals for patient comfort, symptom management, advanced directives/planning
  
• Hospice develops an individualized Plan of Care for each client. This Plan of Care is then implemented by an interdisciplinary team approach. Services provided by team members may be increased or decreased at any time based on the needs of the client and or family/caregiver.
  
• Persons receiving hospice services often times experience a relief of financial burden. Hospice provides medications related to the hospice disease, supplies and medical equipment necessary to provide comfort and ease of care giving.
  
• Hospice services are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assist with any questions or urgent needs, and to help manage any changes in condition.
  
• Hospice provides bereavement and support services to families and the community after the loss of loved ones.