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

Supporting clinical documentation includes:

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

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 Aria hospice care:

Benefits of Aria Hospice Care for Stroke Patients

The Aria 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 Aria Hospice Care for Stroke patients include:

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 Aria Hospice Team provides comfort care which focuses on relieving pain and maintaining comfort.

Symptom Control–  The Aria 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.

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.

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 Aria 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.

Holistic Approach – Emotional and Spiritual Support – Therapy and counseling services add an additional level of care to the hospice services provided by Aria 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 Aria Hospice team.