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What You Need To Understand About Oklahoma Hospice Care

By Anna Sanders


It would be nice if the end of life was quick and easy. Instead it is often sad, discouraging, and painful. Knowing they don't have to navigate these uncharted waters alone can make all the difference to the dying and their loved ones. Oklahoma hospice care is an great example of the kind of compassionate, caring professionals who make themselves available every hour of the day in order to ease the pain of this final transition.

There are common questions about this care. One of the questions most asked is when to discuss this kind of arrangement with a loved one. There may never be a comfortable time to have the conversation, but experts agree that it should take place well before the actual service is needed. At the end of the individual's life, there is so much going on, no one involved needs the added stress of making another decision.

Hospice will not automatically come in. The family has to request that they do so. After receiving a request, the agency can process it within two days. The service will have a representative meet with the patient and family right away. If the situation is especially urgent, the request can be expedited.

Patients will have a team working for and with them. The team usually includes at least one registered nurse, a social worker, a volunteer, a home health worker, and a chaplain. These professionals work with the individual and loved ones putting a plan in place that will fit the specific needs of the patient. The staff has a number of clients it has to divide its time between. Nurses will have at least a dozen patients. Social workers usually have a double workload.

When illness reaches its final stages there can be a lot of pain involved. The palliative assistance staff is trained to keep the patient as pain free and comfortable as possible. They work with the physicians to ensure they clearly understand the medications, therapies, and procedures necessary to achieve the desired results. The staff meets regularly with physicians to go over any changes or modifications to the original treatments.

The staff can serve patients wherever they are. It is not necessary to be a patient in a hospital to receive the care. Workers are called to nursing facilities and other long term homes to assist patients living there. There are agreements in place between the service and the facilities allowing workers to come and go freely while administering to patients.

Sometimes patients need the kind of professional care their families can't give them at home. In these cases, inpatient residential centers and freestanding hospice houses are always an option. Neither Medicare nor Medicaid cover the cost of these institutions. It can be a good idea to investigate the kinds of insurance policies that will cover these costs well before they are needed.

The last of life can be challenging. For some it is painful, prolonged, and messy. There are resources available to patients and families that can help make this transition more bearable.




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