Hospice Care
When someone you love is facing a terminal illness, choosing the right hospice care provider can make all the difference. Hospice care focuses on enhancing the quality of life for patients by prioritizing comfort, dignity, and compassionate support during the final stages of life. It’s not about giving up—it’s about making every moment meaningful.
At Santa Maria Hospice, we tailor our care to each patient’s unique needs and values. Our hospice team provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones wherever they call home—whether that’s a private residence, assisted living facility, or nursing home. We believe hospice care is more than a service; it’s a calling.
How Do You Qualify for Hospice Care?
To qualify for hospice care, a patient must have:
- A terminal diagnosis with a life expectancy of six months or less.
- A decision to stop curative treatment and focus on comfort and quality of life.
- Progressive symptoms such as weight loss, frequent infections, or repeated hospitalizations.
Hospice eligibility is usually determined by a physician, but family members can initiate conversations with healthcare providers if they believe a loved one may benefit from hospice. Common conditions that qualify include cancer, dementia, congestive heart failure, COPD and other serious illnesses.
Hospice professionals at Santa Maria Hospice will coordinate with a patient’s family and medical team to assess eligibility and create a personalized care plan.
Comprehensive Hospice Care Services
Physician Services Will Address All Needs
At Santa Maria Hospice, we provide the 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.
Respite Care and Daily Assistance
Caring for a terminally ill loved one can be exhausting. Through respite care, we temporarily take over caregiving responsibilities so primary caregivers can rest and recharge. In addition, our hospice staff may assist with daily tasks like bathing, grooming, light meal prep, or mobility support for patients struggling with serious illness.
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 Santa Maria 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.
We Take Care of the Supplies You Need
The cost of medication can put an undue burden on a patient’s family. Luckily, Santa Maria 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.