Get the Benefits of Comfort with Hospice Nursing Service

When a person is at the end of his or her life then at that moment one needs comfort. If you or your dear one has a terminal illness and you are unable to take care of that person then you might have to consider hospice care. It is very important to understand that how it will work and what kind of comfort and support it can provide. Basically, hospice is for the people who are nearing to the end of their life and these are the services provided by the health care professionals who are experienced in taking care of patients who are terminally ill. The professionals provide comfort to a person who is seriously ill by reducing the pain and they will provide support for psychological, social, spiritual, and physical needs.

If you also want the hospice care service for a patient at your home then you can contact the hospice agencies in Tarzana who can assist you in multiple ways. Not only that, they will provide comfort to a person but it also addresses physical, social, spiritual, and psychological needs along with that they help the families by providing counseling, practical support, and respite care. This service is especially for a seriously ill person who is expected to live six months or less. Hospice care can be provided to a person as per the doctor's suggestions and a team will certify that the conditions remain life limiting. In many situations, hospice care services are required for cancer, kidney failure, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and more. If you really want comfort for a person then it will be better to enroll in hospice care early. As it will help you to live better and live longer. Hospice care will decrease the burden on the family along with that it also creates the family's likelihood of having complicated grief and prepares family members for their loved one's death.

If you find that a person has a limited time to survive then it will be better to enroll in the hospice care services early. You can check out the details of hospice nursing service online because there are many hospice care service providers available who are helping the patients in a better way. They know how to treat the patients and how to keep them motivated to have a comfortable and relaxing life. The nurses who are offering the services will come to your place to provide the care. In addition, they are also responsible for the coordination of the hospice care team. There are different kinds of professionals who are working in different positions, so it will be better to look out for the options that would be convenient for your patient. Even they can assist you with the counseling so it will be easier to be prepared for a dear one's death in the near time.

Hospice Facilities in Tarzana Offers Comfort to Terminally Ill Patients

There are many people who are going through some kind of serious illness or health condition. In many cases, people are able to take care of their family members but in some cases, it is hard for them to take care of the patient for the long term. And in that situation, it will be better to look out for the service from the outer person who can come and give you the service that will give more comfort and relaxation to the patients who are terminally ill. There are a lot of people who know about hospice care which is an option if you or your loved one has a terminal illness. It will be better to understand that how hospice can work and how to select a program.

If you or your related has a terminal illness and you have exhausted with all kinds of treatment options then in that case you might consider hospice care works. These days, hospice facilities in Tarzana are highly in demand because it works great for patients who are terminally ill and it can provide comfort and support to them. Basically hospice care is for the people who are nearing the end of their life and these services are provided by a team of healthcare professionals who maximize the comfort for a patient who is terminally ill by reducing the pain and addressing the physical, social, spiritual, and psychological needs. To provide support and help to the families, hospice facilities also offer counseling, practical support, and respite care. It is not like other medical care services, but it is completely focused on hospice care which is not to cure the underlying diseases. The main goal is to offer the highest quality of life possible for whatever time remains for a patient.

If you also need some kind of assistance for a person who is terminally ill or end of his or her life, then it will be better to look out for hospice care. To take the hospice care, you must have to check the details of hospice agencies in Sherman Oaks that are offering the best professionals who can come to your place and serve their services. It will be better to understand the benefit of hospice care. It can be provided for as long as a person's doctor and hospice care team certify that the condition remains life limiting. There are many people who received hospice care, who have cancer or other critical illness like heart diseases, kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, and more. Therefore, if you or any of your dear ones is going through such kind of situation where family and friends are unable to take care of a person then taking hospice care could be the best choice. Hospice care is provided at home with family members typically serving as the primary caregiver. Even the service is available at the hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities as well.

What Services Can You Find In Hospice Agencies In Tarzana?

Hospice agencies in Tarzana will have a list of services they offer. Most of these are catered to either the elderly or those suffering from a debilitating illness, all of whom require special attention in terms of their day-to-day lives.

But if you’re reading this article, you likely have no clue about what to expect when you avail of these services. And it can be a pricey endeavor, so it pays to be absolutely sure about what you’re about to enter into.

And if you’re reading this, you may also be wondering how hospice care is different from palliative care. We’ll jump right into that in the next section.

Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care
It’s understandable to confuse these two forms of special care, but the difference is quite simple and clear. Palliative care can be done whether there is curative intent or otherwise. That means it is applicable for someone who is terminally ill in the same way that it is applicable for someone suffering from chronic pain.

Hospice care, on the other hand, is only for the former. Those who are given a prognosis of having just six months to live are usually the ones warranted to receive this kind of treatment.

The Services Offered By Hospice Agencies
The services of hospice agencies will vary from one facility to another. But generally, here are the usual ones you’ll find:

Medication: This is a given, and a very important one. Most hospices will shoulder all medical expenses related to a patient’s condition. Whether it’s for alleviating pain or managing its symptoms, these are usually covered.
Counseling: A hospice will also provide counseling services, both for the patient and their loved ones. This includes spiritual or pastoral counseling, especially for those who are towards the end of their lives. Bereavement counseling is also provided for families of the deceased.
Nursing: Hospices will usually have a case manager nurse solely assigned to a patient. Some may require round-the-clock care, while thrice-a-week visits could work fine for others.
Home health aides: Patients who require extra attention for their personal care needs would be provided with a home health aide. From assisting a patient as they get dressed to running to the drugstore to restock medical supplies, home health aides help get these tasks done.
Medical equipment: Part of a hospice agency’s job is to make sure that the patient gets the necessary care they need, and that includes medical equipment. These include wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, walkers, adult diapers, and even a full-sized hospital bed.
Avail of These Services From a Reliable Hospice Agency in Tarzana
All of these services are offered at our facility: Arclight Hospice. We’re located along Ventura Blvd., but we serve other cities like Woodland Hills, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, and Orange County, just to name a few. Our facility is open from Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, but our operations are 24/7.
So if you’re looking for hospice agencies in Tarzana call us at (213) 371-9186.

Should You Hire A Home Health Aide?

It can be tough to have an elder loved one living alone. You’re constantly worried about their overall well-being, and that can keep you up at night. But should you hire a home health aide and make your life easier?

For many people, the answer to this question is not that simple. It’s a matter of assessing whether having one is a need or a want. And if you’re on a tight budget, your priorities constantly lie on the former.

But this article should help answer your questions, specifically on whether hiring a home health aide is the way to go. This applies both to those who need it for themselves and for families who are thinking about hiring one for their loved ones.

Basic Personal Care Is Beginning to be a Challenge
For many elders, basic personal care is one of the first things to go when getting to the later stages in life. But some people have it worse than others. They become incapable of the day-to-day necessities like bathing and dressing up. For those who are wheelchair-bound, even getting up to move around can be a real pain.

If you or a loved one have gotten to this point, hiring a home health aide should be done immediately.

You’re Getting Overwhelmed By Your Own Duties As a Caregiver
This section applies more to those who also serve as primary caregivers to their loved ones in need. If you’re one of those pure souls, props to you, you’re doing the Lord’s work. But there will come a point when you will need an extra hand, or you’ll burn out yourself.

Being a caregiver is a challenging undertaking, and you need to be in your best shape to do it right. But if you’re beginning to lose time for yourself that it already affects how you treat others (usually, you’ll be more short-tempered), then it’s time to have someone on board with you.

Your Medication Has Increased
In most cases, elderly people require more medication to address certain conditions. There’s one to maintain blood pressure levels, another for addressing cholesterol and blood sugar. Add the fact that you tend to be forgetful at this age, and you’re suddenly looking at a potentially big problem.

Once your doctor begins to prescribe you medication that requires you to take more than three pills or capsules daily, you’d want to hire a home health aide. Apart from taking care of you, they can also help you keep track of your medication to make sure you’re not missing anything. They can also take on the rather arduous task of running to the drugstore and restocking your supply.

You Find it Difficult to Stand For Longer Periods
Many basic household chores require you to be on your feet. Whether it’s cooking, sweeping the floor, or vacuuming a rug, you’ll be standing for relatively longer periods than you should be.

A home health aide can do all of that for you. If you don’t require assistance in terms of your physical well-being, you can pass on these chores to the person you’ll hire. That only adds convenience to your life, which we all want at the end of the day.

Your Reliable Home Health Aide Provider
If you or a loved one are thinking of hiring a home health aide, we at Arclight Hospice can help you out. We provide personal care services like bathing, nutrition, even skincare. For those living within the Tarzana area in California, we’re open from Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. For more inquiries, visit our website or call us at (213) 371-9186.

The Benefits Of Spiritual Care In Hospice

Many of you may not know this, but spiritual care has a lot of benefits for hospice patients. Sure, the physical aspect of healing is important, but many experts believe that all-encompassing care is also necessary for one’s well-being, especially if they’re suffering from a serious condition. But what exactly are the benefits of spiritual care in a hospice environment? How does that work and how effective is it? This article should provide answers to these questions.

Religion vs. Spirituality

When we talk about spiritual care, many people automatically associate it with religion. And for some, that can be a polarizing thought. After all, religion is something utterly subjective and many people are non-believers.

Spirituality, however, is a different thing. Unlike religion, it focuses more on understanding the meaning of life and one’s purpose than developing a relationship with a divine being. Religion may just be one aspect of spirituality, but overall, it is a much deeper and broader concept.

The Role of Spiritual Care in a Hospice Environment
The exact role of a spiritual care counselor will vary from one facility to another. But generally, it’s a service that’s offered to people who are at their end-of-life stage. Spiritual hospice care usually revolves around spiritual and emotional counseling. Those tasked to oversee these sessions will also offer active listening and a reflective presence to provide the patient with a less strenuous and more fulfilling experience.

But to make it clear, spiritual care isn’t solely for the dying. Anyone going through painful experiences like grief or any type of loss can also avail of these services. Some experts within the industry see it as a form of self-awareness and reflection, which includes finding forgiveness and hope, and mending or strengthening relationships with loved ones and oneself.

The Benefits of Spiritual Care in Hospice
Spiritual care in general bears numerous benefits to the mind, body, and soul. But in a hospice setting, they are meant to be more specific.

Resolution of inner conflicts
People in hospice care have their fair share of internal struggles. Especially for those who are nearing the end of their lives, there will be a list of regrets and unresolved fears that have been a nuisance for a long time.

Spiritual care is meant to ease these burdens. Counselors are there to provide comfort and strong words of wisdom that could help make their final days a lot more bearable and meaningful.

Finding emotional and spiritual wellness
Upon the resolution of those internal conflicts, a patient is expected to find emotional and spiritual wellness. In many cases, all that’s needed is for the individual to realize what their true calling is and to start making things happen for themselves. Whether or not they’re nearing the end of their journey in life, it’s a strong and beneficial realization to have.

Ultimately, the patient will experience an improved quality of life through spiritual care once all of their burdens have been lifted.

Finding one’s life purpose
As mentioned in the previous section, finding one’s life purpose is one of the many benefits of spiritual care. With the help of a counselor, the patient can realize their full potential after seeing their purpose in this life. And that can only mean great things for them, moving forward, even if they have a short time left in this existence.

Enjoy the Benefits of Spiritual Care in Hospice
We at Arclight Hospice value the importance of spiritual care for our patients. We respect everyone’s traditions and beliefs and our services are catered to giving each person the support they need to feel at peace in their final days of life. We’re located along Ventura Blvd and are open from Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. For inquiries, visit our website or call us at (213) 371-9186.

What Does A Home Health Aide Do?

Everyone has a basic idea of what a home health aide does. In a nutshell, a licensed professional assists someone in need with their daily life and routines. People who choose this option are usually those who prefer a more cost-efficient and comfortable option for their loved ones, instead of hospice care.

But of course, this complex and rewarding job has more to it than meets the eye. If you’re planning to enter this profession or just curious about what to expect, this article should provide the necessary information for you.

Providing Personal Care Assistance
A recent survey posted by the AARP revealed that around 87 percent of older adults aged 65 and above prefer to remain living in their homes within their community. However, that can be problematic for those who are unable to provide themselves with the necessary personal care like taking a shower and even dressing up.

In some cases, family members take on the task of looking after their aging loved ones. But for the most part, and very, unfortunately, these seniors are either left to fend for themselves unless they choose to enter hospice care.

This is where a home health aide comes in. They’re there to provide personal care assistance, from bathing and grooming, even using the toilet. Such activities require movements that not many elders are capable of doing, and this is where the home health aide comes in.

Assisting in Meal Preparation
Any activity that involves working in the kitchen is not only tedious but potentially hazardous, as well. It’s never advised for any elder who’s unable to look after themselves to be using a kitchen knife to chop ingredients or operating a gas stove.

For elders suffering from a condition like dementia, a home health aide is particularly needed. They’re not there just to provide the assistance, but they’re also there to ensure safety. And while there is the option of ordering in, the presence of a home health aide also gives elders the option of a healthier, well-balanced meal.

Keeping the House in Order
Housekeeping can be a challenge for anyone who’s unable to physically take on such tasks. Especially for elders, the simple act of decluttering a living room can be an exhausting endeavor. But with a home health aide, housekeeping tasks become the least of an elder’s worries. With that added helping hand, it becomes easier for them to relax, take it easy, and enjoy their twilight years.

Ensuring Medication Obligations Are Met
Most elders have prescribed a laundry list of medications for them to take daily. But if they’re already dealing with a neurologic disorder, for example, the likelihood of them missing a pill or two is very high. Part of a home health aide’s job is to ensure that these medications are taken correctly and on time. And if needed, they can also make a quick drugstore run to replenish the medicine stock.

A Trusted Hospice Agency That Provides Top-Notch Home Health Aide Services
If you’re looking for a reliable service that provides home health aide services, look no further than Arclight Hospice. Our other services include dementia support, wound care, pain management, and bereavement counseling. For more information call us at (213) 370-1205.

How Exactly Is Bereavement Counseling Helpful?

Just by the name itself, we can get a good clue of what bereavement counseling is all about. But in a nutshell, its main purpose is to help a person deal with the loss of a loved one, which as many would know, is one of the most difficult challenges to face in life.

Usually, these sessions will be overseen by a grief counselor. This person is licensed and skilled enough to provide an avenue for discussing the necessary feelings and emotions that people go through during this hard time.

Now, if you want a little more information than just the basic definition, this article should provide that. So be sure to read on until the end.

Bereavement Counseling vs. Bereavement Therapy
For the uninformed, it’s easy to interchange these two concepts. However, there are slight but noticeable differences. For one, counseling is more about coping with everyday issues and potential triggers. A good example would be helping someone deal with the loss of a close grandparent.

Therapy, however, is a bit more extensive. It requires sessions that may last for months, and in worst cases, may require the prescription of certain medications. To put it in perspective, an individual may need therapy if the death of the loved one has begun to prevent them from living a normal life, like appetite loss or deep depression.

How Bereavement Counseling is Helpful
Now, let’s jump into our main topic. There are a few ways wherein bereavement counseling is beneficial for the grieving individual. Here are just some of them.

It draws the line between trauma and grief
Grief is basically a person’s natural reaction to the death of a loved one. While each individual will deal with it differently, everyone will go through its five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

But it then becomes traumatic when a specific event surrounding it has become very scarring and almost debilitating to deal with. A good example is having constant flashbacks of the moment the person found out about their loved one’s death. In this case, counseling will draw the line between these two and help deal with it appropriately.

It helps rebuild bonds between the living and deceased  
The death of a person doesn’t automatically mean your relationship with them also ends. You can keep their presence alive through memories and moments you’ve shared together.

A bereavement counselor is there to help rebuild those bonds that were momentarily shaken by the other person’s death. They will provide actionable ways to keep that relationship alive.

It helps the grieving person process the loss better
Denial is one stage that many people struggle to surpass. Many are unable to look back on their loss as if it was a normal part of life. As a result, they’re unable to look back on this monumental moment, which is a very important step to take.

Bereavement counseling is there to encourage the individual to face the loss head-on and move on to the next stages of grief. Ultimately, it helps them process their loved one’s death much better.

A Reliable Hospice Facility That Offers Bereavement Counseling
If you or anyone you know are having a difficult time dealing with a loved one’s death, we at Arclight Hospice are here to help you out. We offer bereavement counseling for an entire year after the person’s death to make sure the grieving individual goes through each stage of grief as smoothly as possible. For more information, please call us at (213) 370-1205.

Everything You Need To Know About Dementia Support

Dementia support is the best form of care you can show for someone dealing with this debilitating condition. However, it’s never an easy task to complete, and there are many challenges that come with it.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely faced with an uphill battle and you’re looking for solutions. This article will help you through the process of making life easier for you and your loved one afflicted with this disease. So be sure to read until the end.

The Challenges of Dementia Support
As we mentioned, providing dementia support will never be a walk in the park. The biggest challenge would be seeing your loved one who was once full of life and passion slowly dwindle away because of their condition. Now that they’re stricken with this disease, you can expect them to behave much differently, even erratically and sometimes, a little violently.

From your end as the person providing care, it can be a very difficult situation. But it doesn’t always have to be the case, and here are some ways to minimize these headaches.

Create a safer living space
A person with dementia is greatly impaired. He or she is more predisposed to self-injury and preventable accidents. From your end, part of your duty is to provide a safer space for them to live in.

A good start would be avoiding the use of scatter rugs and keeping extension cords out of their way to prevent slips and falls. Another way to do this is by keeping the shower temperature in check and making sure it’s not too hot and scalding. You’d also want to keep potentially harmful objects like knives and matches out of their sight.

Keep things easy and less frustrating for them
A person suffering from dementia can easily get frustrated when things become a bit more challenging and confusing. That can also dampen the mood and make things heavier for you, the person providing care and support.

Do yourselves a favor and keep things easy. One way to do this is by establishing a daily set routine. Take care of their personal grooming, first and foremost to make sure that’s not neglected, and to keep them refreshed before they take on other important tasks like going for a doctor’s appointment. You can still have them engage in spontaneous activities, but be sure you’re also flexible on that.

Take steps to slow down the disease’s progression
The sad truth is that there is no single cure for dementia. It will forever be a part of a person’s life, and he or she will just have to learn to deal with it. What you can do, as someone providing support, is to take the necessary steps to slow down the progression of their condition.

One way to do this is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle that involves a proper, balanced diet, regular exercise, and keeping them mentally and socially active. Another way would be to help them remember appointments or even just simple words to keep that part of their brains as sharp as possible.

A Hospice Agency That Provides Ample Dementia Support
Now, if you choose to seek professional assistance, we at Arclight Hospice are here to help. Our team helps provide assistance in terms of personal care, as well as pain management and effective communication. For more information call us at (213) 370-1205.

A Guide To Pain Management For Hospice Patients

While we all have a general idea of what pain management is all about, it can be a bit different when it comes to hospice patients. And from that, comes certain misconceptions that worry people when taking their loved ones into hospice care.

Some worry that their afflicted family members may be given too many prescription drugs for their own good. Others have concerns about the potential severe suffering that their loved ones may go through, and in most cases, it’s all brought on by the anxiety of not being physically present for them.

This article should help clarify pain management for hospice patients, while also clearing any misconceptions. So be sure to read until the end.

Prescription Drug Protocols

It is correct to assume that certain prescription drugs will be part of the pain management protocols in a hospice. But given that such drugs are in play, they aren’t administered carelessly.

But before we get into the actual process and what it looks like, it’s important to first tackle the drugs that are involved. Usually, patients are given opioids like morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and methadone.

Now, given the 2021 CDC report where it was found that more than 100,000 people die annually from opioid overdose, the concerns about administering such drugs are understandable. But every hospice follows a strict protocol where they assess whether or not a patient should continue their opioid medication, for one. The dangers and risks of opioid use are also given as a constant reminder. This helps prevent any potential cases of overdose.

Emotional Pain Management

Another huge hurdle that many hospice patients deal with his emotional pain. This could involve anxiety and stress, which lead to unhealthy lifestyle circumstances like poor food choices and improper sleeping habits.

In this case, patients would usually be prescribed downer medications like Ativan or Valium to help them deal with their anxiety. But apart from these over-the-counter drugs, they will also be subjected to several forms of therapy or regular visits from a social worker or chaplain.

The Lower Likelihood of Addiction

We mentioned this in passing in an earlier section, but let’s delve into it in more detail. One of the biggest concerns that family members have about hospice pain management is that their loved ones may develop an addiction to opioids. While we did mention the strict protocols, the chances of it happening are also lower.

That’s because people who enter hospice care are either in severe pain and are in need of such medications, or they’re in the final stages of life. Getting hooked on prescription medication isn’t happening because there isn’t time to develop an addiction.

A Hospice Facility With a Trusted Pain Management Program

Especially if you’re in the Los Angeles area and are looking for a hospice facility with a reliable pain management program, we at Arclight Hospice are at your service. We have a team of physicians and nurses who are more than equipped to identify visual cues of a patient’s level of comfort. In turn, they’ll be able to provide the appropriate care methods. For inquiries, call us at (213) 370-1205.

What To Expect In Speech Therapy In The Best Hospice In Los Angeles

You know you’re working with the best hospice in Los Angeles through the multitude of services they offer. The really good ones have a wider variety of options for their patients, especially those who require extra care and attention.

Speech therapy is one of those services that are vital for people dealing with debilitating conditions. It could be an elderly loved one who suffered from a stroke or is dealing with the difficulties brought on by dementia.

Now, you came here to know more about what speech therapy is all about and what to expect from it. This short article should answer your most important questions.

A Brief Introduction to Speech Therapy
Before anything else, let’s first discuss what speech therapy is all about. In a nutshell, it’s a form of therapy that’s meant to assist a person dealing with a speech or language impairment. The goal is to help incorporate new forms of communication, or at the very least, improve it.

People who undergo speech therapy are either children with speaking difficulties, or, as we mentioned in the intro, elderly people who developed speech problems because of a condition or with age. For this article, we’ll focus on the latter.

According to studies, senior citizens who continue to practice their speaking skills through speech therapy later in life have a better chance to keep a sharper memory for a bit longer. This is also one of the reasons why it is highly recommended for them.

What Happens During Speech Therapy?
With the help of a licensed speech therapist or pathologist, patients will be thoroughly evaluated. Even the subtleties of their mouth, jaw, and throat functions are studied.

In the case of seniors who suffered a stroke, a speech pathologist is there to assist in enhancing functional communication and even teach safer swallowing methods. Muscle restraining strategies, visual speech perception, and even singing are also done.

The approach is slightly different for seniors dealing with dementia. Here, the licensed expert would usually teach a variety of techniques that focus on keeping language skills sharp. The goal is to assist these people to deal with their memory problems better, which in turn, helps them achieve better control in their speaking and reasoning abilities.

How Important is Speech Therapy For Seniors?
As we grow in age, our body slowly deteriorates. In terms of speech-related issues, our vocal cords lose their elasticity as we grow older. Larynx muscles also start to weaken. When both of these issues arise, elderly people may find it more difficult to speak as they would when they were younger.

This is where speech therapy comes in. With the help of vocal exercises, it basically trains a senior how to speak properly again.

For people who suffered from a stroke, speech therapy helps them regain the ability to speak. However, the treatment should be done within six months or they risk losing the ability to recover.

Speech Therapy Services From the Best Hospice in Los Angeles
If you’re looking for speech therapy services for you or a loved one, look no further than Arclight Hospice. We’re here to make sure that you regain that ability to speak, and we have the best resources and personnel to make that happen.
We’re located along Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana but we serve many other cities in the Southern California area. For more information, call us at (213) 371-9186.

Everything You Need To Know About Hospice And Physical Therapy

It goes without saying that hospice care and physical therapy go hand in hand. The latter has been proven to be a vital part of the former, especially when caring for seniors who’ve been compromised either by a debilitating disease or just by old age.

But from the outside looking in, one can wonder how these two are connected with each other. Especially from the point of view of family members looking to enter their elderly loved ones into a hospice facility, this is a relevant question to ask.

This article should help inform you and answer any questions you may have about hospice and physical therapy. Be sure to read until the end.

What is Physical Therapy?

This may come off as an obvious question, but it still pays to know what exactly goes on during physical therapy sessions. But in a nutshell, physical therapy is the practice of making sure that a patient gets to live a normal, pain-free life, free from the symptoms of their ongoing condition.

But contrary to common belief, physical therapy isn’t just about helping an individual recover from a leg injury or relieving them from pain. It also helps in managing chronic illnesses like diabetes or heart disease, adapting to an artificial limb, and even controlling bowel and bladder movements.

All of these are done under the watchful eye of a physical therapist, who does an initial overall evaluation before developing a care plan that is tailor-fit to the patient’s condition. But in terms of a serious injury, a PT won’t replace the doctor’s role. Rather, they are just there as a guide for the doctor to prescribe the best form of medication.

What Role Does Physical Therapy Play in Hospice Care?
In terms of hospice care, physical therapy aims to achieve a set of specific goals: to maximize the patient’s remaining functional abilities, to help them achieve comfort in the best way possible, and to help manage symptoms.

Here, physical therapists aren’t the ones in full control. Rather, they play more of a listener and problem solver role. They are more about providing assistance for as long as possible while also helping the patient in terms of pain management.

Physical therapists from hospice facilities also play a key role in lessening the stress and burden that family members go through when caring for their debilitated loved ones. That, in a way, provides some form of emotional support for them, which is a big deal during those hard, trying times.

What Services Do Hospice Physical Therapists Provide?
Apart from pain management and relief, physical therapists from hospice facilities also help patients with mobility. For someone who suffered from a stroke, for example, a PT may help them regain some basic movements like climbing a flight of stairs. They may also recommend equipment for the patient to use or suggest some home modifications.

Physical therapists also help patients live more efficient lives. Endurance training, as well as some energy-conservation techniques, are done to help achieve that.

Physical Therapy From a Trusted Hospice Facility in Los Angeles

Those who live in the Tarzana area could benefit a lot from Arclight Hospice. Apart from physical therapy, we also offer speech therapy, dementia support, pain management, bereavement counseling, and spiritual care, just to name a few.
We’re located along Ventura Blvd. and we’re open from Mondays to Fridays from 10 AM to 5 PM. For more information, call us at (213) 371-9186.

Answering The Most Common Questions About Continuous Care Services

While continuous care services are necessary, they are not cheap. For people on a tight budget, these services may be an added burden to the already mounting medical bills for their suffering loved ones.

If you feel like you’re in need of these services but have some questions, fret not. We’re here to clarify all of them, and hopefully, after reading this short article, you can make a more informed decision.

The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Continuous Care
You may or may not have these questions in mind, but these are the most common types of inquiries we’ve generally been getting from people.

Who is eligible for continuous care?
If your loved one is already in hospice and is dealing with symptoms that put them in dire straits, they will likely need continuous care. But if you want to be specific, some examples would be a patient who suffered a fall and had experienced incessant bleeding. The same thing goes for patients experiencing some form of agitation or discomfort in their end-of-life stage and requiring round-the-clock care.

But not all cases have to be severe. Some patients may be doing better physically but need supervision from a nurse because of a specific condition. In this case, continuous care services may be warranted.

How is continuous care different from hospice care?
Apart from what we’d mentioned in the earlier section, what makes continuous care different is that it happens round-the-clock. In most severe cases, nurses are made to have a shared living situation with their patient. But generally, the afflicted individual will receive eight hours of care within a 24-hour period.

Ultimately, it all depends on the situation. If the patient’s condition isn’t as threatening, they can receive less frequent visits from a nurse until they stabilize.

Is continuous care prevalent in society today?
Many elderly people become apprehensive about going through continuous care because of the added expense and discomfort on their part. Many of them would rather deal with their condition without the help of professionals, and that’s completely understandable.

But you’d be surprised at how prevalent this is in our society today. According to the United States Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), 24% of elderly adults turning 65 years of age are required to undergo continuous care. And according to National Center for Biotechnology and Information, those who are widowed or divorced are the most at risk for continuous care admission.

What Facility Offers Reliable Continuous Care Services?
For those who live in the Tarzana area in Southern California, Arclight Hospice is a place to go to. We do provide continuous care services with the help of our skilled and experienced home health aides and nurses.

We also make sure that patients get personalized care as they are pre-evaluated to see which specific types of services they will be needing. Rest assured, you or your loved one will be receiving the best form of care to suit your needs. For more information call us at (213) 371-9186.