If your loved one is receiving treatment for a serious or life-limiting illness, their doctor may mention transitioning to hospice care. What is hospice care, and how can it help your loved one? Hospice care provides compassionate treatment and pain management as a patient nears the end of their life. A doctor or patient may decide hospice care is the best choice if treatment options have failed.

Hospice Care and Home Hospice Care

Instead of treating the illness or disease, hospice care treats the person. It focuses on relieving symptoms like pain and keeping the patient comfortable during the final phase of their life. The patient and their family will design a care and treatment plan to address their specific needs and desires.

Hospice care can be provided in a skilled nursing facility or administered at the patient’s home. In a home care situation, a family member acts as the patient’s primary caregiver. Nurses, home health aides, and other hospice staff members regularly visit the patient and caregiver to assist with care and make patient assessments.

There are many benefits to home hospice care. Patients are in a familiar, peaceful environment and are surrounded by family members, making their final days more enjoyable.

Hospice staff provides medical equipment and trains family members on how to care for the patient at home. They also perform skilled nursing care like bathing or dressing the patient. Medical staff help administer and manage the patient’s medications and symptoms, so they remain comfortable at all times.

When to Choose Palliative Care Instead

If your loved one is receiving treatment for a serious illness but is not at the final stage of their disease, hospice care may not be the right option for them. Hospice care is only administered at the end of a person’s life when treatment has stopped. Patients wishing to continue treatment can choose palliative care instead.

Palliative care provides the same services as hospice care but can be administered during any phase of their illness and while they’re receiving treatments to combat their disease.

Most palliative care services are covered by private insurance and Medicare plans. Members of the patient’s care team include:

• Physician
• Nurse practitioner
• Social worker
• Support staff

These members work together to create a collaborative environment where the patient feels supported throughout treatment.

With our services, you also receive access to triage 24/7, nurse visits, and a phone consultation with a palliative care nurse.

Insurances Accepted

Affinity Care of Ohio contracts with many private insurances to make end-of-life and critical care accessible to everyone. We accept Medicare and common private insurances. If you have any questions about your insurance coverage, give us a call and allow us to help you with your needs.

Locations Served

For compassionate care services across these Ohio areas, consider Affinity Care of Ohio:

• Brown County
• Butler County
• Champaign County
• Clermont County
• Clinton County
• Cuyahoga County
• Darke County
• Erie County
• Fayette County
• Greene County
• Hamilton County
• Highland County
• Lorain County
• Madison County
• Mahoning County
• Medina County
• Miami County
• Montgomery County
• Portage County
• Preble County
• Shelby County
• Stark County
• Summit County
• Trumbull County
• Tuscarawas County
• Warren County
• Wayne County
• Lake County
• Ashland County

Hospice and Palliative Care in Ohio

Affinity Care of Ohio provides palliative and hospice services with compassion so your loved one receives the support they need during their illness. Our skilled staff consists of nurses, home health aides, and spiritual advisors to meet all aspects of your loved one’s physical and emotional needs.