There is more than just medical care at hospice

Did you know that hospice care includes more than just medical care?At Care Dimensions (formerly Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston), the hospice team includes the physician, RN case manager and aide. In addition, a team of social workers, chaplains, trained volunteers and complementary therapists address the emotional, spiritual and family concerns and work to improve the patient?s quality of life.These additional services can make a positive difference for patients and their families. “Jack,” a patient, is a good example of how hospice is so much more. After a series of small strokes, he began having problems with balance, depression and was short-tempered.As his condition worsened, he required multiple ER visits, though doctors could not do much medically to improve for him.Hospice care transformed him.?I had no idea that hospice care provided such a variety of supportive services,” said Jack?s daughter. The change in his quality of life has been amazing.?He?s walking again, leaving his room for meals, and he?s more animated,” his daughter said. “Care Dimensions has provided so much more than what we thought hospice was. It?s really been the best decision we ever made regarding our father?s care.”Nurturing the body, mind and spirit is at the core of these supportive services. The team works together to plan and coordinate care. Social workers provide support to patients and families by identifying needs such as helping families with paperwork and finding other support services.They will talk with patients and families to help them understand the social, emotional and practical issues related to the care of the terminally ill patient, while trying to ease the burdens of the families.Chaplains provide spiritual care and support to people of all faiths. They are highly trained professionals, with extensive experience in cultural and religious diversity, as well as facilitating conversations on health, disease, dying, death and grief. They provide patients and families with support as they consider questions about the purpose of life, suffering, forgiveness and the progressive losses that accompany a life-limiting illness.Creating opportunities for socialization is another important component of hospice care. Our team of more than 400 volunteers provides socialization, and so much more. Many volunteers choose to be a direct patient service volunteer – reading to patients, playing cards, doing crafts, running errands or providing a listening presence. They offer companionship that patients eagerly anticipate. For example, “Stan” regularly looked forward to his visits with his volunteer, who would drive him to a special candy shop to get the saltwater taffy that he loved. These visits provided Stan with an opportunity to get out of the house and experience something that he talked about all week with his family.For many patients, Care Dimensions? complementary therapies add pleasure to their life. Our therapies include art, music, and pet therapy, Reiki, aromatherapy and massage. These noninvasive, holistic practices enrich the quality of life for patients by relieving stress and tension, adding relaxation and promoting a sense of well-being.These many supportive services help make hospice care so vital and different from any other medical care. For Jack and Stan and the majority of our patients, these additional services are essential elements that enhance their quality of life, allowing them to live every day to the fullest.To see a first-hand account of the type of supports and services Care Dimensions offers to our patients, visit our website www.CareDimensions.org and YouTube page. To learn more about all of our services or to speak with a hospice expert, please call us at 888-283-1722.At Care Dimensions, we have been helping patients live each day to the fullest by providing compassionate end-of-life care for over 35 years. We have grown to become the largest and most experienced hospice program in the state, servi