What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is an affirmation of life that focuses on keeping comfort, pain-free care when a loved one is faced with a terminal illness.

Compassionate Hospice Care Services in Virginia

Transitioning to hospice care can be difficult for patients and their families, but it does not have to be. At-Heart HomeCare & Hospice makes everyone involved as comfortable as possible. We offer premier hospice care services in the Virginia region, allowing your loved one to live in comfort and dignity. No matter what level of care they need, our experienced and dedicated staff will make every effort possible to accommodate them.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice is an affirmation of life that focuses on maintaining comfortable, pain-free care when a loved one is faced with a terminal illness. We concentrate on keeping the patient and family involved as much as possible by utilizing a team-oriented approach that includes professional medical, social, emotional and spiritual support. At-Heart HomeCare & Hospice provides individualized professional care plans that allow you to live comfortably wherever you may call home surrounded by your loved ones.

Hospice care helps terminally-ill patients live the last stages of life in comfort and dignity. Besides simply taking care of the patient’s physical needs around the clock, hospice care also emphasizes the importance of emotional and social well-being. Hospice care involves the expertise of many different professionals during the care process, including the patient’s primary care physician (PCP), registered nurses, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual advisors, and volunteers. All in all, hospice care encompasses a wide range of services necessary to make your loved one’s final days as comfortable as possible. The sudden loss of a loved one comes with immeasurable grief, but choosing hospice care means you and your family will have time to live the last moments to the fullest.

Indicators that are hospice-eligible can include but are not limited to:

Weight Loss
Increased assistance with daily activities
Increased weakness and fatigue
Frequent and multiple falls
Difficulty swallowing
Shortness of breath or chest pain

Continuous oxygen
Increase/changes in medication
Recurring or multiple infections
Frequent phone calls to physician
Frequent hospitalizations or ER visits

Physician Services Will Address All Needs

At At-Heart HomeCare & Hospice, we provide the physician services you would expect of hospice and go above and beyond to provide premier care for our patients. The patient’s Primary Care Physician remains the director for their care, and our staff works to keep them informed of the patient’s condition, wants, and needs. Working in conjunction with our Medical Director, our clinical team provides all necessary education and home visits that are outlined in each care plan.

Taking Care of Pain and Symptom Management

Care plans for pain and medication coordination are essential aspects of hospice care. We work with your loved one to understand their needs, and then we create a strategy for pain and symptom management throughout their time with us. Our nurses will administer the necessary medications and treatments during their home visits to keep your loved one as comfortable as possible.

Personalized Comfort Care for Your Loved One

There are few things that are more dehumanizing than being treated like just another number. At At-Heart HomeCare & Hospice, we create individualized care plans that treat your loved one as a human being. Our nurses and nurse aides add a personal touch to their daily care plans, so you can rest assured your loved one is in good hands.

Bereavement Support

It is an understatement to say dealing with the loss of a loved one is difficult. That is why At-Heart HomeCare & Hospice is committed to providing bereavement services to families of loved ones. You will meet with a qualified bereavement coordinator during the admission process and will receive their support throughout the entire hospice care process.

Assisting Beyond Physical Needs

Just as important as the physical needs, social and spiritual support are prioritized during the care process. Our Medical Social Workers are available to help you navigate the required paperwork associated with the admission process to hospice care. Also, should you have a religious affiliation, our chaplain and bereavement teams will assist you with spiritual needs during end of life and any special arrangements you prefer, such as funeral arrangements and memorial services.

Volunteers Add an Extra Personal Touch

In addition to the knowledgeable care team, At-Heart HomeCare & Hospice has a dedicated volunteer staff available for our hospice patients. Our volunteers are compassionate, friendly individuals aimed to providing extra care for your loved one. These volunteers go for walks, read to patients, create personalized crafts, or simply provide conversations. Our volunteers are also available to offer you and your family support through the grieving process.

We Take Care of the Supplies You Need

The cost of medication can put an undue burden on a patient’s family. Luckily, At-Heart HomeCare & Hospice will handle the costs associated with medication, medical equipment, and other supplies related to the patient’s terminal diagnosis. We are well-equipped to coordinate with insurance companies to ensure all medical supplies are readily available.

Have More Questions?

At-Heart HomeCare & Hospice has a complete list of Frequently Asked Questions that you can find the answers you are looking for.Hospice FAQs

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