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Palliative Care
Palliative (pronounced păl´ē - ā tĭv) care is medical care focused on relieving suffering and improving quality of life for anyone dealing with a serious illness, at any time, regardless of diagnosis, prognosis or treatment.
Hospice Care
Hospice care is a form of palliative care, specifically for individuals with a life-expectancy of six months or less (as determined by their physician), whose goals for care focus on palliation (comfort measures) rather than cure of the underlying disease.
Together, hospice and palliative care utilizes a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support, expressly tailored to a patient’s needs and wishes. Support is also provided to the patient’s loved ones and family members.
Hospice care is offered to adults, children, and infants living with threatening illness such as Cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, stroke, ALS, Parkinson’s, severe birth defects, and end-stage heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease.
Hospice can help by:
- Managing physical symptoms and keeping you comfortable
- Providing emotional and/or spiritual support for patients and loved ones
- Helping with your daily living activities
- Providing education about care, the disease process and changes which may occur in the patient’s condition
- Providing bereavement support to patients and loved ones
Kind and knowledgeable staff members will work with patients and their loved ones to help improve your quality of life. A personalized plan of care will help promote your comfort and a specially trained team will provide the care, under the direction of your own doctor. Patients and loved ones need to know that they are not alone during this time. Our services are only a phone call away.
All health insurance programs in California, including Medicare Part A, Medicare HMO,
Medi-Cal, CHAMPUS, senior health plans and private insurances, cover the cost of hospice care at some level. Services covered can include:
- Hospice physician services
- Home visits by the hospice team
- Medications related to the hospice diagnosis
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Respite, inpatient or crisis Care
- Bereavement services
- Physical, speech, and occupational therapy
- Dietary counseling
San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care staff can help you with any questions or concerns you may have regarding insurance coverage for hospice care.
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Hospice care is provided by a specially trained team that works with your personal physician to develop a plan of care that best meets your needs and your loved ones’ needs.
Hospice care is provided in the privacy and comfort of your home, or other places of residence such as residential care, assisted living or skilled nursing facilities. San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care services ALL of San Diego County, including the North County, South Bay, East County and Coastal Cities. Hospice care is also provided in the San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care Inpatient Care Center, St. Paul’s McColl Health Center (San Diego), GlenBrook Skilled Nursing Center (North County) or other acute hospitals, as needed.
Anyone can make a referral for hospice care – a physician, friend, family member, or neighbor. San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care staff members are available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Once a referral is made, a San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care representative will schedule a visit with the patient and/or their loved ones, to assess the best type of care options available. Usually, care can begin within a day or two of a referral. Call toll-free at 1-866-688-1600.
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