Passion generally isn’t the first word that comes to mind when you’re considering hospice care. But PruittHealth brings an unmatched level of passion to serving the patients and families who enlist them to help ensure that the final months of a person’s life are filled with dignity and joy.
There are many misconceptions surrounding hospice care, and PruittHealth is on a mission to broaden the understanding of exactly what it is. Though many people consider hospice to be a place where patients go to live out their final days peacefully, hospice care is available to patients who have a life expectancy of six months or less. Unfortunately, most patients are referred to hospice care when it’s too late for them to be able to take full advantage of the program. Lynn Brooks, PruittHealth’s hospice administrator, sees this scenario play out all too often.
“We’re all learning how to be advocates for ourselves on a number of topics, particularly our health,” said Brooks. “It’s crucial that people who have a life-limiting disease understand the breadth of what hospice care can offer so they can start the conversation with their doctor about whether hospice may be able to help them.”
The services PruittHealth offers to patients who qualify for hospice care are astounding, including a registered nurse available around the clock to assist with pain control and medication management; a health nurse aide to help with personal care such as bathing and dressing; a social worker to gather resources within the community that can help patients cope with the changes they face; a chaplain; and volunteers to offer companionship.
Patients are able to choose the services they feel would benefit them the most, and PruittHealth tailors their care to each individual’s needs and desires.
While the list of Pruitt’s services is extensive, the most impressive component of its offerings is that these services are provided to patients in their own homes so they can spend their time in a familiar and comfortable place where family and friends can easily visit to brighten their days.
Enjoying all that PruittHealth has to offer within your own home sounds expensive, but, for qualifying patients, hospice, “is paid for by Medicare Part A. It’s one of the best-kept secrets of Medicare,” Brooks said. “To determine if you qualify for hospice, please call our office, or you can request a referral from your physician.”
PruittHealth also has a skilled nursing facility and offers home health care. In either of these scenarios, having access to regular health care allows caregivers to relax while skilled professionals continue to monitor the health of their loved ones and ensure their comfort.
Hospice care with PruittHealth is so much more than a place to spend your final days. PruittHealth offers passionate care and physical and emotional comfort, helping patients live their last stage of their lives with dignity and grace. Moreover, Brooks shared, “When their final days have passed, the families of hospice care recipients say two things: “I wish I would have had hospice sooner, and we don’t know how we would have done it without you.”’
For more information, visit pruitthealth.com/hospice or call 864-226-1219.
By Lindsay C. Bishop