The Covid-19 pandemic has changed everyone’s lives, no matter who you are and what your current life status is. The pandemic doesn’t discriminate against anyone, and it has changed how hospice care in Los Angeles is being done. Even though the pandemic has initiated more challenges in several areas, the quality of hospice care is as capable as ever. The hospice team in Los Angeles talks about how the pandemic has turned around hospice and palliative care and, in some situations, enhanced the overall care and support patients receive.
The pandemic has altered, and in many situations enhanced, hospice care in Los Angeles in different ways, especially since many hospices are taking more preventive measures to lower the level of exposure for their patients, influencing the power of telecommunication, decreasing the risk of transmission by wearing PPE and incorporating regular testing, and arranging communication with their patients.
Hospice care professionals in Los Angeles warn us that the pandemic is not behind us just yet. Although the vaccine has helped scale down the risk for those with an advanced illness, they are still the most vulnerable to the serious illness of death from coronavirus. The continuous danger of coronavirus has urged hospice care in Los Angeles to accommodate their patients as much as possible to lower their level of exposure.
One way this is carried out is by making it possible to talk with others virtually. Much as individuals in hospice care Los Angeles can still see their loved ones in person, other communications, such as meetings with a chaplain, can be accomplished virtually.
Many hospice patients are amazed by the potential of teleconferencing and telecommunication. Video conferencing deals with arranging meetings between the hospice patient and one or more other members of the hospice care teams.
This may consist of but not necessarily restricted to doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers, and more. A few hospice care patients would prefer to meet with their closest relatives and friends face-to-face with the proper safety measures in place. Still, when meeting with medical or counseling team members, it is usually more desirable to do so via telecommunication.
Since the pandemic started, hospice care workers have had to get screened more than they were in the past. Besides receiving the coronavirus vaccinations, they may be tested more regularly and told not to come to work if they or their family members have any symptoms of an illness.
Without a doubt, hospice care workers are also wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) a lot more at the moment than they were before the coronavirus pandemic. Once more, the potency of telecommunication has paved the way for more possibilities as they can help patients virtually in many situations too.
The way we perceive advanced illnesses in hospice care has changed as well in the past two years. At the same time, respecting the patient’s right to find life-saving treatment and supporting them to do so whenever possible, the reality is living with a terminal illness sometimes means there are no life-saving treatments.
Despite the fact that it can be easier said than done, recognizing something that is unavoidable is vital, and more hospice care providers are changing their focus to the patient’s general well-being. This has supported hospice patients to spend their time cherishing what is essential to them instead of being encouraged to fight tooth and nail in a losing battle.
To go into more detail about the previous method in which hospice care has changed its focus during the pandemic, hospice care providers are adhering to the wishes of the patient more than they ever have before, while also making sure to keep them safe and as healthy as possible.
Typically, this involves spending more time with friends and family and appreciating each moment instead of spending their time concerned with finding life-saving treatments. In reality, hospice care is usually a challenging experience for family members, friends, and particularly for patients, and this has increased tenfold during the pandemic.
Hospice attempts to find a harmonious balance between keeping patients safe from coronavirus while also giving them the freedom to spend their time doing the things that bring them the most happiness in life, which frequently includes spending time with their loved ones.
Faith & Hope Hospice and Palliative Care work around the clock to ensure the health and safety of all of our patients while still offering them the capability to get the care they require, meet with their loved ones face to face, and live a joyous life regardless of their diagnosis of an advanced illness. If you want to learn more about hospice and palliative care during the pandemic, do not hesitate to contact us today.