Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Some Notes Regarding Hospice Care Bellevue WA Residents May Be Interested In

By Anna Kennedy


Compared to a hospital, a hospice provides broader patient care, particularly for individuals with long term disease conditions. Hospices are there to meet the needs of the individual in terms of their emotion, spirituality and more importantly, ensuring that they are as comfortable as possible. Hospitals may not be able to provide such wholesome care because the atmosphere itself could be lonely for the patient as they may lack somebody to identify with. Most patients in hospitals are able to be restored back to health, leaving those with terminal conditions alone and devastated. There are several things on hospice care Bellevue WA residents need to know.

Cancer in one of the typical reasons that one seeks care in a hospice. In its most advanced stages, it is very difficult to eradicate. Patients are put on chemotherapeutic drugs to shrink the tumor and to keep it from multiplying further. Pain is a recurring factor among most individuals undergoing palliative care. In principle, patients live on opioid medication in order to stay sane.

Among the commonly used pain medications are opioids particularly those that fall under the strong class. Examples include drugs such as fentanyl, pethidine and morphine. In as much as they provide effective pain relief, they should be used with caution because of the numerous side effects associated with them. One of the worrying side effects is depression of the respiratory system.

For terminal ill patients with disease in the alimentary canal, nutrition needs should be a priority. Such individuals may not be able to retain foods due to obstruction. In other situations, they may take in the food but fail to absorb it because of inflammation in the gut lining. In the former, a special tube referred to as nasogastric tube needs to be inserted all the way to the stomach.

In malabsorption syndromes, the patient may require long term parenteral feeding. Parenteral nutrition means that special feeds are given through superficial veins on the surface of the skin to reach the blood system. Such veins are accessed through cannulation. The cannulas need be changed regularly to ensure minimize the chances of infection and also to prevent to prevent blockage by clots.

Bed sores are a huge bother for individuals who stay in bed for most of their life. The health care team needs to be aggressive in changing bed sheets and diapers. The patient also needs to be turned as often as possible. Special mattresses are available for such individuals to keep the patient from exerting too much pressure on the bed and ending up with sores.

To meet spiritual needs, clergy men are available in hospices to give hope to patients. They can read inspiring verses to them, sing to them as well as pray for them. This encourages the patients to live every single day with hope and cheer on their faces even in the midst of a storm.

In a nut shell, hospice care is indicated for patients suffering from terminal illness such as cancer, advanced disease of the respiratory system and immunological conditions among others. The goal is to keep the patients in the most comfortable state emotionally, physically and spiritually. Healthcare providers need to work closely with the clergy and family to ensure wholesome care.




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