Little Elm Hospice Care: A Focus on Dignity and Quality of Life

Hospice is generally received at home. Simply put, hospice is all about enhancing the life of anyone with a life-limiting illness. Hospice never attempts to hasten or delay death. On the contrary, it’s built on the foundations of comfort, dignity, respect, and honoring an individual’s wishes. Hospice can be provided at any stage of a serious illness, and often comes into play when the focus has shifted away from curative treatment. Hospice is not a place; it’s a plan of care coordinated by a team of physicians, nurses, and other professionals.

Hospice patients and families receive care for an unlimited amount of time, depending on the course of illness. Holding Hands Hospice does not set a fixed limit on care duration that a patient may continue to receive hospice services in Dallas. In most cases, patients under hospice care are given a six-month prognosis or less. In essence, a patient who agrees to receive our hospice care in Dallas primarily to enhance comfort rather than curative interventions.

However, our hospice care in Dallas doesn’t end after six months. Some patients may live well beyond their prognosis, which means a plan of care may continue if the attending physician certifies a patient's eligibility, and the patient wishes to continue receiving hospice care service and not curative treatments.

No. Anyone with a life-limiting condition may receive hospice care in Little Elm, no matter their age.

Of course not. Our hospice care services in Little Elm, TX, help people live life better for as long as possible. If a patient’s health improves or they want to pursue curative treatment again, they are free to leave hospice at any time. A patient may also return to hospice for services if they feel the need.

Our support in Little Elm revolves around regular visits by physicians, nurses, and home health aides. However, we can provide 24-hour care for patients who need severe pain management or acute symptoms. For day-to-day support, most patients receive this from family members or private caregivers.

Yes. We provide hospice support to terminally ill patients wherever they live, whether it’s at home, in assisted living, a nursing facility, or another type of long-term care. Our team will work closely with staff at those facilities and all agreements will be laid out clearly so everyone is on the same page.

Private insurance companies and HMOs offer hospice benefits. Medicare for individuals age 65 years or older receive hospice benefits. A person with a prognosis of six months or less will receive full Medicaid benefits if they wish to participate in the Texas Medicaid Hospice Program. Under this program, patients electing hospice care agree to waive their rights to other Medicaid services that include treatments to cure their terminal illness. Consequently, patients may still receive other forms of treatment that are not related to their terminal medical condition.

Yes. Our hospice care service in Dallas can control pain and other symptoms in the patient’s home. In case a symptoms/s becomes worse, family or caregivers may reach our hospice nurse 24/7 to provide acute care management. We use advanced and effective care strategies to alleviate pain and control symptoms for our patients. We carefully assess patients' pain and symptoms during visits and introduce a care plan that enhances their comfort and quality of life. Our hospice physicians are responsible for prescribing and adjusting medications based on the needs of our patients.

Yes, we offer grief programs that support family members and caregivers after a patient has passed away. Our Little Elm hospice grief services include personal visits, education on the grieving process, group meetings, and referrals for other professional support if necessary.