DHR Health Hospice
Dr. James Castillo
Dr. Daniel Tamez
November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. During this time, we focus on community awareness and explain the multiple benefits of hospice services. Patients often ask, “What is Hospice Care?” Hospice care is a comprehensive medical program focused on improving the quality of life for patients with a terminal illness.
Hospice is not necessarily a place; it is a service that offers emotional, physical, and spiritual resources to patients at home or in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, or specialized hospice facilities. This type of care is designed for patients who have a life expectancy of six months or less.
DHR Health Hospice is an interdisciplinary team composed of physicians, physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nurses, social workers, chaplains, and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Hospice care is about living life as fully as possible, even as life is ending. In fact, patients and families have improved outcomes and better control of their symptoms when hospice care is started early.
Hospice services are part of a complete Medicare benefit, meaning there is little to no cost associated with hospice care. Hospice care includes medications, medical supplies, and durable medical equipment, such as hospital beds, oxygen, or any other hospice-related-diagnosis necessities that help improve a patient’s quality of life. Hospice care is also covered by many commercial and private insurance companies. In addition, hospice services provide bereavement supportive services to families up to one year after a patient has passed away.
At DHR Health Hospice, we understand that transitioning a loved one to hospice care is a difficult decision to make. Our mission is to ensure that you and your loved one are prepared and informed about hospice care to make the transfer process as simple and as convenient as possible for everyone involved.
DHR Health Hospice can help guide you and your family by answering any questions about the hospice services available to you or your loved one. If you would like to schedule an informational talk, please call DHR Health Hospice at 956-362-5780.
