Palliative Care is an internationally recognised healthcare option that specialises in the relief of pain, symptoms and stress of a serious illness. It offers physical, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and works well in conjunction with curative and disease directed treatments.
Palliative Care is an internationally recognised healthcare option that specialises in the relief of pain, symptoms and stress of a serious illness. It offers physical, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and works well in conjunction with curative and disease directed treatments.
MYTH: Hospice is only for people in their last days of life
The worst myth of all. A common misconception about St Bernard’s Hospice is that it is “a last resort” and that a person must be bedridden or unable to communicate in order to receive help. Nothing could be further from the truth! Involving St Bernard’s Hospice early means there’s more quality time for patients to spend with the people they love, and time to reflect during this peaceful, meaningful time of their life. Recent research indicates that patients receiving hospice care actually live longer than similar patients not receiving hospice care.
MYTH: Hospice is a place
More than a place of care, hospice is a unique kind of care for people with advanced illness and the ones who love them. It is a specialized care that accepts dying as a natural part of life when death is inevitable, seeking neither to speed up the dying process nor postpone it. Our care is available wherever you reside – in your private home, in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and in area hospitals. At times, pain or symptoms may become too difficult to manage or stabilize, St Bernard’s nursing staff help you manage the pain – Affirming your life.
MYTH: Hospice care means giving up hope
Hospice involves acknowledging that most diseases in their advanced stage cannot be cured. Accepting the services of St Bernard’s Hospice does not mean you or your family need to surrender hope or ongoing medical support. A person can continue to hope and plan each day for optimal quality of life, even while no longer pursuing aggressive curative treatments. Hope can be found from helping you and your family achieve the highest possible level of physical comfort and peace of mind. Ultimately, hope means different things to different people, and the compassionate staff of St Bernard’s Hospice will be there for you on your journey … to live out whatever hope means to you.
MYTH: Hospice means nothing else can be done
There is a great deal St Bernard’s Hospice can do to help you and your loved ones when the focus of care is on providing comfort when there is no cure. Comprehensive services are available to enhance your quality of life and support your family members.
MYTH: Hospice means giving up control
Hospice does not mean giving up control. St Bernard’s Hospice gives you choices–choices about how you want to live your life, and all matter of decisions regarding the kind of care and treatments you do and do not want. Your St Bernard’s Hospice plan of care is customized based on input from you, your family, your physician and the St Bernard’s Hospice interdisciplinary care team.
MYTH: Hospice is just about dying
St Bernard’s Hospice care is about living as fully as possible and making the most of the time you have. It’s about living in comfort and with dignity. And it is also about helping you and your family have a better quality of life with the support you need.
MYTH: Hospice care is only for the patient
While a patient’s care is important, hospice care is holistic and designed to support the needs of all family members and caregivers. St Bernard’s Hospice care is not only about treating patient symptoms; our care is about being a compassionate guide for patients and their families.
MYTH: Hospice is only for people 65+ years old and on/or on Medical Aid
St Bernard’s Hospice care is for people of all ages with advanced illness regardless of their ability to pay.
Do I have to have a lot of money to afford hospice care?
At St Bernard’s Hospice, we work to ensure that families do not experience financial burden. Medical aid and most private insurance plans cover the majority of the costs for our comprehensive, hospice care services. And it is the policy of St Bernard’s Hospice to ensure the availability of end-of-life care to all individuals who request and are eligible for hospice care regardless of their ability to pay for services and thus the majority of patients receive care free of charge.
Do I have to have cancer to receive hospice care?
St Bernard’s Hospice cares for patients with a range of end-stage illnesses, including (but not limited to) congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Alzheimer’s disease, end-stage dementia, kidney disease, liver disease, Parkinson’s disease, complications of AIDS, multiple sclerosis, as well as cancer.
Do I have to give up my primary doctor?
Every aspect of St Bernard’s Hospice care involves teamwork-which can include your physician. Our professional St Bernard’s Hospice team members are experienced in coordinating and communicating with your own physician about the best plan of care for you.
Do I have to give up all treatments to receive care?
Each patient is unique. Please call us to discuss your individual situation.
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