Hospice For Individuals With Heart Disease

Living with a chronic heart condition can make every day a challenge. We understand the difficult physical and emotional challenges associated with heart failure and heart disease.

Our team of hospice care professionals help patients, their loved ones and their caregivers deal with the effects of advanced heart disease after curative treatment is no longer effective. We help patients find relief from:

• Chest pain
• Breathing distress
• Respiratory infections
• Cough and fluid buildup
• Difficulty walking
• Increased anxiety or depression
• Difficulty with personal care
• Sleeping problems
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Nausea

Our goal is to relieve physical and emotional distress, reduce crisis situations and reduce visits to the hospital so patients can look forward to each day, without pain, worry, or stress. We provide 24/7 support and teach patients and families to better control the symptoms of heart disease.

Soreo cares for patients wherever they live (at home, in adult care homes, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes). We help patients, their loved ones, and their caregivers communicate needs, navigate the healthcare system and plan for the future.

Our interdisciplinary team brings together the skills and experience of:

• Medical Director directs care and coordinates with primary physician and cardiologist
• Specially trained registered nurses manage symptoms and pain
• Hospice aides assist with daily care and housekeeping
• Social workers help patients and families cope with emotional and social issues
• Chaplains offers non-denominational spiritual support
• Complementary therapists relieve stress through music, art, massage and more
• Trained volunteers provides companionship
• Bereavement counselors helps families prepare for death and cope with grief

The hospice team provides:

• Immediate access to care for pain and symptom management
• Regular visits by a Registered Nurse (RN) to monitor the patient’s medical condition, answer questions, and help with understanding how to care for the patient
• Visits by a RN when there are new symptoms or the patient’s condition changes
• Daily check in phone calls
• 24/7 availability of hospice staff (RN, Social Worker, Spiritual Staff, Home Health Aid) with a one hour response time to address patient and family questions/concerns, change in condition, medication reconciliation and refills
• Home delivery of medications, medical supplies, and medical equipment
• Education and support to increase early recognition of the recurrence/emergence of symptoms, manage symptoms at home, meet patient’s care needs, understand the disease process, and cope the emotional and spiritual issues related to having a life limiting illness, caring with a life limiting illness, and loving someone with a life limiting illness.
• Assistance with applying for entitlements, identifying, accessing, and securing community resources/services to address unmet social needs.
  Bereavement support for family, caregivers, loved ones for 13 months following death

In the case of end-stage congestive heart failure, it can be difficult for patients, families and even physicians to determine when it might be time for hospice

The progression of end stage congestive heart failure is often unpredictable with varying symptoms and recurring periods of decline and recovery. As a result, the majority of heart disease patients who are eligible for hospice care are not offered the opportunity to receive this essential emotional and physical support.

Only a doctor can make a clinical determination about the appropriateness of hospice care. However, these are are common signs that the disease has progressed to a point where all involved would likely benefit from hospice services:

• The patient has advanced congestive heart failure or advanced coronary disease with frequent episodes of angina (chest pain resulting from insufficient supply of blood and oxygen to the heart).
• The patient has an abnormal heart due to disease and suffers significant symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath or functional decline.
• Optimal treatment for the patient’s condition has already been provided and he or she is not a candidate for further surgical or medical intervention.
• The patient has tried the optimal treatment(s) and made the personal choice not to pursue any further specialized treatment.

The primary physician may recommend hospice when the time is right. But as anyone who has faced a serious illness knows, patients and family members often must act as their own advocates to receive the care they need and deserve.

You, your loved one or your trusted physician may request an evaluation to see if hospice is an appropriate option for care.