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Questions to Ask a Hospice Provider

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Choosing a hospice provider is one of the most important decisions you will make during your or your loved one’s end-of-life. The right provider will ensure as much comfort, dignity and agency as possible for your loved one during their final months, maximizing the quality moments spent with family and friends. To help you choose a hospice that is a good fit for your needs, here are some questions you should ask during your consultation.

Questions to Ask

  1. “Can you provide support in my loved one’s primary language?” Los Angeles is a diverse community. Being able to communicate quickly and easily in your loved one’s primary language is essential to providing the best care. At Journey Palliative and Hospice, the majority of our team members speak two or more languages.
  2. “What will you do to respect my loved one’s beliefs?” Every person has unique individual and cultural beliefs about what happens after death, and how best to prepare for that transition. Make sure that the hospice you are planning to work with will show the deepest respect and support for your loved one’s cherished beliefs, and be able to provide suitable spiritual counsel.
  3. “How do you ensure that my loved one’s agency is preserved?” Far too often, those who are in the end-of-life stage end up losing their autonomy. While some of this is the direct result of disease, it can be compounded by careless caregivers. Do not just ask a hospice if they will honor your loved one’s wishes, but how they will do so. Get specific details, especially in a case where the patient’s agency is severely restricted by their condition.
  4. “What role will our family play in working with your team?” When you enter your loved one into hospice, a multidisciplinary team collaborates with family members to provide the most effective and respectful care. Ask what specific role you will play and how the team will work with you to ensure your loved one’s needs are met.
  5. “Can you meet our specific needs?” By the time you are evaluating hospices, you should have a list of specific physical, emotional and spiritual needs for your loved one and your family. Go over each item in your list to check if the hospice can provide the care you require.
  6. “How quickly can you reach my loved one’s home?” One more question that is smart to ask is how long it will take the hospice to send emergency workers to your loved one’s home in a crisis.

Get Compassionate Hospice Care for Your Loved One

When you contact Journey Palliative and Hospice in Burbank, we will take as much time as needed to answer all of your questions in detail. To learn what we can do to help your loved one and family during this challenging time, please call (818) 748-3427 to schedule your consultation. We can serve you in Kern County, LA County, Ventura County or Orange County.  

4 Common Misconceptions About Hospice Care

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Many people know that hospice is a service that can increase comfort and help manage symptoms during the end-of-life period. But there are a lot of common misconceptions about hospice care. Below, we dispel some of these myths so you can better understand the role of hospice.

Misconception About Hospice Care

Hospice is a place. Fact: The term “hospice” does not refer to a location. It refers to a set of services provided by a multidisciplinary team to the patient and their family. In fact, the majority of hospice care takes place at the patient’s residence. Some care takes place at an in-patient facility, as needed.

You cannot afford hospice. Fact: If a patient qualifies for Medicare, their Medicare benefits will cover hospice. So, for many patients, hospice care is actually free. Medicaid, private insurance, and other payment options are also accepted.

Hospice lasts only a few weeks or months. A patient becomes eligible for hospice care when they have a terminal diagnosis with a six-month life expectancy. Hospice can last considerably longer than a few weeks.  If the patient lives longer than six months, hospice can be renewed as well.

 A patient entering hospice is giving up. A patient who enters hospice care is no longer trying to cure their terminal condition. But that does not mean they are giving up on living. In fact, many hospice patients choose to begin hospice in part so that they can squeeze more living into the time they have left. Being able to receive palliative care, physical therapy, counseling and other forms of support can help hospice patients to improve quality of life and spend more time with their loved ones. Sometimes we even see a temporary improvement in a patient’s condition due to the benefits of hospice.

Get Answers to Your Questions About Hospice Care

When you schedule a consultation with Journey Palliative and Hospice, we take as much time as needed to answer all of your questions about what to expect from hospice. To find out how we can help you or your loved one, please call (818) 748-3427.

Tips For Choosing a Hospice in Burbank

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When your loved one needs more support than you can provide, choosing a hospice is one of the most important decisions you will make.

In this post, we will go over some things you need to think about when you are choosing a hospice in Burbank so you can find caring providers who will treat your loved one with the utmost compassion at the end of life.

6 Tips For Choosing A Hospice

  1. Check the area of service. As much as possible, hospice care is provided at the patient’s residence so they can stay in the environment where they feel at home. Make sure that the hospice can send healthcare workers quickly to your loved one’s location if the need is urgent.
  2. Look up the hospice’s background. Research the year the hospice opened, the background of the company, and the experience and ratings for the individual physicians and nurses. Look up the licensing and certification for the hospice as well.
  3. Find out how payments work. Make sure that you are selecting a hospice that accepts your coverage. Find out how long you will have to pay out-of-pocket expenses as well to make sure the hospice will fit within your budget.
  4. Check into speciality care. If your loved one requires physicians and nurses with a particular medical specialization, search for a hospice that can offer that specialized care.
  5. Pick a Burbank hospice that offers holistic care. The care your loved one needs at the end of life encompasses not just the body, but also the mind and the spirit. A hospice that offers counseling, companionship and chaplain services can provide support on every level. Your hospice also should support your family with grief counseling, social work services and more.
  6. Choose a hospice in California that respects your loved one’s wishes and dignity. Finally, one of the most challenging aspects of approaching the end of life is retaining agency and autonomy. Your hospice should work hard to ensure that your loved one’s wishes are understood, respected, and carried out.

Get Your Loved One Compassionate Hospice Care in Burbank

Journey Palliative and Hospice puts patient wishes first, and provides compassionate support to your loved one and your family. We serve the entire Burbank area and help the patient spend as much time as possible at home where they feel most comfortable.

To find out how we can help, please give us a call now at (818) 748-3427 to schedule your consultation.

Discovering the Benefits of Hospice Care for Dementia Sufferers

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Do you ever wonder how your loved one with dementia will be cared for in its final stages? As we know, dementia is a progressive disease that can eventually lead to the end of life. That’s where hospice care near me comes in. Hospice care provides specialized care to patients with serious illnesses, such as dementia, with a focus on comfort and quality of life. In this blog, we’ll explore the role of hospice care for dementia sufferers.

Hospice care is tailored to the specific needs of each patient. When it comes to dementia care in Los Angeles, hospice care can provide a variety of services, such as pain management, emotional support, spiritual care, and assistance with daily activities. Hospice care providers are trained to recognize the unique needs of patients with dementia, including communication difficulties and behavioral changes.

Here are three key ways in which hospice care can support patients with dementia:

Managing symptoms:

As dementia progresses, patients may experience pain, discomfort, and other symptoms that can be difficult to manage. Hospice care can provide specialized medical care to help manage these symptoms, allowing patients to be more comfortable and have a better quality of life.

Providing emotional support:

Dementia can be a challenging and emotional journey for patients and their families. Hospice care providers are trained to provide emotional support to patients and their families, helping them navigate the challenges of dementia with compassion and understanding.

Focusing on the quality of life:

Hospice care focuses on improving the quality of life for patients, even in the face of a serious illness like dementia. Hospice care providers work to ensure that patients are able to engage in activities they enjoy, spend time with loved ones, and live with dignity and respect.

As dementia progresses, patients may require additional care and support. In some cases, patients may develop heart failure in Ventura County or other serious medical conditions. Hospice care can provide specialized medical care and support to help manage these conditions, allowing patients to be as comfortable and supported as possible.

Getting Started with Hospice Care

Hospice care plays a crucial role in supporting patients with dementia and their families. If you’re in Los Angeles or Ventura County and are looking for compassionate and personalized hospice care for your loved one with dementia, consider contacting Journey Palliative and Hospice. Our team of hospice care providers is trained to provide expert care and support to patients and their families, helping them navigate the challenges of dementia with compassion, respect, and understanding.

How Does Respite Care Help Seniors and Their Families?

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Are you or your loved ones struggling to balance caregiving responsibilities for a senior family member with other obligations? If so, respite care could be the answer. Respite home care services in Orange County provide temporary relief for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.

Caring for an elderly loved one can be challenging and overwhelming, especially for family members who juggle their caregiving duties with their personal and professional responsibilities. It’s important to understand that respite care isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for maintaining the well-being of both the caregiver and the senior loved one. In this blog post, we will explore 10 ways how respite care helps seniors and their families.

1. Provides a much-needed break for caregivers:

Caregiving can be physically and emotionally draining. Respite care provides a break for family caregivers, allowing them to recharge and take care of their own needs.

2. Reduces stress and burnout:

Caregiving can be a 24/7 job, leaving little time for self-care. Respite care can help caregivers avoid burnout and reduce stress, which can improve their overall health and well-being.

3. Offers personalized care:

Respite care services are tailored to meet the specific needs of seniors and their families. This means that seniors receive personalized care, which can help improve their quality of life.

4. Promotes socialization:

Seniors who receive respite care have the opportunity to socialize with other seniors, which can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

5. Prevents caregiver guilt:

Caregiving can come with feelings of guilt, especially when family caregivers need to take a break. Respite care can provide peace of mind and alleviate any guilt associated with taking time away from caregiving duties.

6. Allows for a change of scenery:

Seniors who receive respite care can enjoy a change of scenery by visiting a new location, participating in activities, or spending time with new people.

7. Helps with medical needs:

Seniors often feel more comfortable and safe in their own homes. In-home respite care services allow seniors to receive care in a familiar environment, which can help reduce stress and anxiety.

7. Familiar Environment:

Professionals providing respite care can assist with medication management, mobility issues, and other medical needs that seniors may have.

8. Supports family relationships:

This care type can improve family relationships by reducing stress and conflict associated with caregiving duties.

9. Provides a backup plan:

These services can provide a backup plan in case of emergencies or unexpected events, ensuring that seniors are always taken care of.

10. Improves the overall quality of life:

By providing temporary relief for caregivers, respite care helps seniors and their families enjoy a better quality of life.

Conclusion :

Respite care is an essential service for seniors and their families. It allows caregivers to take a break and recharge while providing seniors with personalized care, socialization, and medical support. At Journey Palliative and Hospice, we provide a wide range of services, including senior respite care services in Burbank. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help improve the quality of life for you and your loved ones.

See What Our Clients Are Saying About Us!

Journey Palliative and Hospice
Journey Palliative and Hospice
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Vicky E.
Vicky E.
00:01 24 Aug 23
There are no words for how wonderful Journey Palliative and Hospice was for my mom and our family. Our Hospice nurse, Ovsanna, was incredibly kind and caring and careful with mom, who was 100. With patience and care, she shared with us the process of passing and was so giving of her time as mom moved through these stages. Ovsanna was available for us 24/7 and would come anytime mom/we needed. She was aware of the comfort my mom would need and was there for her. Her kindness and understanding brought comfort to us as well. We felt completely supported, even after mom's passing. I would recommend this company with wholehearted sincerity for the best care your loved one could receive.
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