Conditions

HOSPICE CARE FOR STROKE VICTIMS

Hospice Care and Support Services for Patients Suffering from Stroke or Coma’s Disease (ALS)

A stroke occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking are major risk factors for stroke.

Hospice Care Eligibility for Stroke Patients

The patient has both 1 and 2

1. Poor functional status palliative performance scale ≤ 40%
2. Poor nutritional status with inability to maintain sufficient fluid and calorie intake with ≥ 1 of the following:

• ≥ 10% weight loss in past 6 months
• ≥ 7.5% weight loss in past 3 months
• Serum albumin < 2.5 gm/dl
• Current history of pulmonary aspiration without effective response to speech therapy interventions to improve dysphagia and decrease aspiration event

Supporting clinical documentation includes:

Coma (any etiology) with 3 of the following on the third day of coma:

• Abnormal brain stem response
• Absent verbal responses
• Absent withdrawal response to pain
• Serum creatinine > 1.5 gm/dl

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When is it time to discuss hospice care for a stroke patient? Victims of Stroke can experience a slow to very rapid decline in health that will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of stroke, location of the brain affected and severity of damage to surrounding brain tissue. It can be difficult to determine when the time is right for hospice care because of this uncertain progression. A clinical determination of a Stroke patient’s life expectancy can only be made by a doctor. However, the following is a list signs that the symptoms have progressed and that the patient and their loved one would both benefit from the services offered by Heart of Hope hospice care:

• Patient has lapsed into a Coma
• Persistent vegetative state
• Severely reduced level of consciousness
• Weight loss
• Continued decline in clinical status
• Severe difficulty breathing
• Severe difficulty swallowing

Benefits of Heart of Hope Hospice Care for Stroke Patients

The Heart of Hope Hospice team will evaluate the patient’s condition and symptom changes. The goal of hospice care for the stroke patient is to treat pain and other symptoms and relieve the physical and emotional stress to ensure the greatest level of comfort for our patients and their families.  The benefits of Heart of Hope Hospice Care for Stroke patients include:

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Pain Management – Patients with neurological disease often experience pain caused by the progression of the disease in the form of muscle weakness, immobility, joint stenosis and muscle spasms. Our Hospice Heart of Hope Hospice Team provides comfort care which focuses on relieving pain and maintaining comfort.

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Symptom Control–  The Heart of Hope Hospice Care Team regularly assesses each patient’s condition and works with the physician to determine the most effective treatment and medication options to maximize symptom control for symptoms which may include: difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, problems eating and drinking, difficulty communicating, pressure ulcers, dementia, anxiety and depression.

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Hospice Care at Home –  The goal of hospice care is to support patients by meeting their needs and managing their care at home – wherever they may call home, using holistic approach that includes hospice massages and emotional and spiritual approaches.

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Coordinated Care Approach – Hospice care is a team effort. The patient’s family and loved ones are actively involved along with a team of professionals and volunteers. With the help and support of the hospice care team, the patient and their family can attain physical, emotional, and spiritual preparedness for the end of life.

The Heart of Hope Hospice Team continuously evaluate the patient’s medical status and revises their care plan as the patient’s condition and symptoms change. The goal of hospice care is to treat pain and other symptoms and relieve the physical and emotional stress to ensure the greatest level of comfort for our patients and their families.

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Holistic Approach – Emotional and Spiritual Support – Therapy and counseling services add an additional level of care to the hospice services provided by Heart of Hope Hospice. Therapy and counseling are non-invasive, holistic practices which enhance the medical, social and spiritual care of the hospice team. These practices promote comfort and wholeness for both patients and their families. Therapy and counseling sessions are provided by staff and volunteers of Heart of Hope Hospice team.

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