Beyond working to make the patient feel comfortable and at-ease, as well as bringing peace of mind to his or her family, a hospice team can also:
- Manage a patient’s symptoms and pain
- Help the patient with emotional and spiritual aspects
- Provide necessary equipment, medical supplies and prescription drugs
- Counsel the family on how best to care for the patient
- Provide specialized services like physical or speech therapy
- Provide optional services like music or art therapy to help bring comfort and happiness
- Allows for short-term inpatient care if or when pain and symptoms become too unbearable or difficult to manage at home (or caregivers need a respite).
- Provide grief counseling to surviving family and friends