What Qualifies for Inpatient Hospice Care?
Indications of the need for inpatient hospice care may include:
- Sudden deterioration requiring intensive nursing intervention
- Uncontrolled pain
- Uncontrolled nausea and vomiting
- Pathological fractures
- Respiratory distress that becomes unmanageable
- Symptom relief via intravenous medications that require close monitoring
- Wound care requiring complex and/or frequent dressing changes that cannot be managed in the patient’s residence
- Unmanageable agitation or restlessness that requires intensive intervention
- Uncontrolled seizures
- Minor procedures to aid in the comfort of the patient, such as removing fluid from the belly area (paracentesis) or inserting a permanent drain or tube
Where Is Inpatient Hospice Care Provided?
Inpatient care is provided in a facility—often a hospital, but also nursing facilities and free-standing hospice houses—that can provide around-the-clock clinical care.
The atmosphere in an inpatient hospice setting is markedly different from that of an acute-care facility. The inpatient hospice unit is calmer and more homelike. Staff members move at an unhurried pace, often taking time talk with the patient, visit with the family, and answer questions.
Day and night, family members and friends of all ages are welcome, and arrangements may be made for overnight stays.
But make no mistake: Intensive pain and symptom management is at work, with a goal of stabilizing the patient so they can return home to routine hospice care.
The inpatient hospice care team:
- Evaluates symptoms
- Provides intensive symptom management
- Maintains around-the-clock care and regular visits
As a result, the team is generally able to manage and control the patient’s symptoms in a relatively short time, usually in days, and the patient can return home.
