Our Patient Care at Mission Hospice
A coordinated team of Mission Hospice professionals, assisted by volunteers, work to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our patients and their families. Staff members are available at all times, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our care giving team includes:
The Hospice Team:
Physicians
Our Medical Directors work with a comprehensive team of specialist to design a plan for controlling pain and other symptoms of serious illness. Working together, our team develops a plan of care that is right for each patient's individual situation and needs.
Nurses
Mission Hospice nurses are experts at managing the needs of each patient and can serve as a valuable resource in educating family members on how to assist in caring for their loved one. Our specially trained and experienced nurses develop and manage a specialized plan of care for each patient, focusing on the patient's individual needs and providing compassionate support to the entire family.
Certified Nurse Assistants
Our CNAs provide personal care and help patients with things such as bathing, dressing and grooming. They also provide companionship and valuable emotional support.
Social Workers
Our team of social workers coordinates community resources and helps the patient and family cope with stresses that they may face when a loved-one is terminally ill. The social workers can help comfort and give support to family members, plan for the future, assist with making financial arrangements and ease other emotional difficulties.
Chaplains
Our chaplains work to help patients and families cope with spiritual questions and concerns, either directly or by coordinating services with the patient's and family's spiritual counselors.
Bereavement Coordinator
Our Bereavement Coordinators follow up with families for a minimum of 13 months, assisting them with resources during the grief journey.
Volunteers
Team members provide companionship, emotional support and offer help in a variety of ways. For example, talking with our patients about current events or past experiences, or taking time to put together a puzzle.
Delivering the Right Level of Hospice Care
Hospice recognizes that different patients require different levels of care, and we respond by offering the category of care that meets the individual patient's needs - in the location that is most appropriate and comfortable. These categories of care include:
Routine Home Hospice Care
We believe in bringing care to wherever you call home, and we strive to provide an environment of care that is comfortable for our patients and their families. Often, this means providing care in the patient's own home, and our team of professionals schedule regular home visits to ensure that medical, social, and emotional needs are met.
Continuous Care / Crisis Care
Continuous Care is provided for a patient during a period of crisis, such as when a patient requires predominantly nursing care to maintain comfort or manage acute medical symptoms. Continuous Care is deemed necessary as long as a patient is in a period of crisis. When the crisis is over, the patient may simply return to routine home care.
Inpatient Hospice Care
If pain or symptoms cannot be controlled at home, the patient might be taken to a hospital or other inpatient care facility. When the symptoms are under control, the patient can return home.
Respite Care
Many patients have their own caregivers, often family members. When caregivers need a rest from their care giving responsibilities, patients can stay in an inpatient care center or a nursing facility for up to five days.
