Southern California
Quality of Life
Hospice care is a special type of health care that focuses on caring for and providing a good quality of life for a patient with a terminal and incurable condition.
The purpose of hospice care is to allow patients to live the remainder of their lives in comfort and focus on easing the impacts of the symptoms of the condition, rather than trying treatments to combat the condition itself.
There are four main types of hospice care:
- Routine Home Care: This type of care takes place within the patient’s home and involves a regular schedule of visits from nurses and other hospice professionals, but it is ultimately not around-the-clock care.
- Continuous Home Care: This is care within the patient’s home that does take place around-the-clock, generally through a live-in hospice caregiver.
- Inpatient Care: This type of care takes place within a medical or hospice facility and is generally used when care for a patient requires more resources or equipment than can be kept within the patient’s home.
- Respite Care: This type of care is a limited-time inpatient visit. It is a means of support for in-home hospice caregivers, allowing them to take a break, rest, and recharge. It is also a good option for patients who need occasional intensive care.