Dallas Hospice Care
Facing the end of life is not easy, but hospice care can help. It’s designed to help patients enjoy the best quality of life possible during their final months, and Dallas has dozens of licensed hospice providers to choose from. Many people assume hospice is a physical place you go to live out the end of your life, but usually patients get hospice care at home or in a senior living facility. Hospice care ensures that patients are comfortable and get the practical and emotional support they and their loved ones need. If your doctor has discussed the need for hospice care with you or a loved one, here are some things to know.
Who provides hospice services?
Whether you receive hospice care at home or as part of the continuum of care in your senior living community, you and your family will work with a team. Each team member has an important role in supporting you and your family.
Your doctor will lead the team along with the hospice doctor or directory to plan your course of care, including pain management.
Nurses and home health aides will monitor your health and pain levels and follow the physicians’ care plan. Speech/language therapists and others may help maintain quality of life through treatments such as therapy for swallowing difficulties.
Homemaking aides can take over routine chores so family members can spend more time together.
Social workers, counselors, and clergy team members can tell you and your family what to expect during end-of-life care and provide ongoing emotional support.
Trained hospice volunteers can run errands, provide brief respite care for family members, and be there to listen when you need to talk.
You may want to tap your personal support network, too. Ask your most reliable and emotionally supportive friends and neighbors for help. They may be willing to set up a care calendar for delivery of meals, grocery runs, visits, or whatever else you need.
Where to find hospice services in Dallas
Your doctor may have specific recommendations among more than 4 dozen Dallas County hospice agencies. The Texas & New Mexico Hospice Organization has a directory you can search by location. Eligible veterans can get hospice care at home, in a senior living community, or at the Dallas VA Medical Center.
You can also find in-home and nursing home hospice care providers on SeniorAdvisor.com. For example, Encompass Home Health of Greater Dallas provides in-home end-of-life care. Some local senior communities including Autumn Leaves and Signature Pointe offer hospice services to their residents.
How to pay for hospice care
Hospice care is usually covered by private health insurers. Medicare Part A covers hospice care at home or in an inpatient facility by Medicare-certified hospice providers. The VA also provides hospice care for VA Health Care enrollees in North Texas. Some hospice services charge sliding-scale fees for seniors with limited resources. Don’t hesitate to ask, because quality care and proper professional support are the keys to making the end of life as comfortable as possible.
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