taken over by a dedicated team of professionals , the family member can finally relate to their loved one in the way that they used to . There is finally time to talk or just sit quietly beside them . And in fact , the hospices that I am familiar with have facilities that allow a family member to stay in the same room as the patient .
Typically , the patient ’ s private room is completely equipped with an adjustable bed , a pull-out bed for the visitor , large windows with a good view of nature where possible , a big bathroom with mobility aids , a television , a chest of drawers and a closet . Families are always encouraged to personalize the room with photos and artwork . The overall ambience of any hospice is utterly peaceful , in sharp contrast to the noisy atmosphere of a hospital with intercom calls and many people coming and going .
Quite often we saw a patient ’ s condition improve remarkably for a while right after entering the hospice . The relief of having medical staff on site , the relief of better pain control , the relief of being able to talk to family with less strain , all contribute to a greater sense of well-being .
Many patients may wish to die at home , and sometimes this works out well , but it can put a burden on the family because they are not trained to know what to do . In the hospice there is 24 / 7 access to professional staff who know exactly what to do , whether the problem is pain , nausea , breathlessness or depression .
Hospices are staffed with registered nurses , practical nurses and health care aides . All of the hospices have palliative physicians who come in several days a week and are on call 24 / 7 .
Sometimes there ’ s a perception that in hospice there will be no medical interventions or resuscitations or treatments except for those needed to increase the comfort of the patient . But this is not strictly true . Patients can still be treated for long-term diabetes , for example . Each person is assessed and treated individually . Morphine is administered to hospice patients when needed , but Ms . VanderVeen said the policy is always “ Start low and go slow . Morphine dosage is only increased based on symptoms .” The patient partners with family and professionals to help make decisions about this issue and many others .
In essence , patients get to decide on their own care , whether it ’ s what they want to eat , if they still want treatment for chronic conditions , how many people they want to have visit them , or if they would like spiritual care or counselling .
Hospices are sensitive and accommodating to all faiths and cultures — Indigenous , Muslim , Jewish , Christian , Buddhist or agnostic . This is important because different faiths and cultures have varying ceremonies and procedures both before and after the patient ’ s final day . There is a multi-faith chapel . And there is psychological counselling available for the patient and for family as well as check-ins and referrals for grief support in the months following the death .
Some hospices also have day programs for people who are living at home with life-limiting illnesses , but who are well enough to go into the hospice once a week for companionship with others , to play games and sing and create
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