At Hospice Valley of Los Angeles, we provide the necessary care and attention for those diagnosed with a terminal illness and nearing the end of life. We provide both hospice and palliative care. We hire a team of qualified professionals who ensure the patient receives every kind of comfort and address their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. This type of care also includes counseling, respite care and practical support for families.

The focus on hospice isn’t curing the underlying disease, but to support the best quality of life possible for time the patient has left. It is administered to patients who have a life expectancy of 6 months. Palliative care on the other hand, provides the same support based on needs of the patient, but doesn’t depend on their prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and can be provided along with the treatment they currently are receiving.

Who benefits from hospice and palliative care?

Hospice

Those with terminal illnesses who have 6 months or less to live can benefit from hospice care – it lets them live out their final days with dignity and happiness, minus the stress of hospital visits. They aren’t hooked up to loud machines, aren’t poked or prodded hourly by medical personnel and won’t undergo invasive procedures to prolong life. However, this care can be provided as long as the person’s doctor and hospice care team verify the condition is life-limiting. Hospice care patients can include those with cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.

Enrolling in hospice early helps to live in a more contented frame of mind and for longer, in some cases. It reduces the burden on family to a large extent, helps them to deal with grief, and prepares them for a loved one’s death. Hospice also allows a patient to be cared for at a facility for a period of time, not because the patient needs it, but because the family caregiver needs a break. This is known as respite care.

Palliative

Those who require curative treatment or with an uncertain prognosis, can opt for palliative care – it is an important and valued option. Our sole objective is to provide an opportunity for those with life-threatening illnesses, earlier in the disease process, access to the kind of care provided by hospice. It gives them relief from the pain and discomfort associated with their illness.

Our palliative care program reduces unwanted, unnecessary and painful treatments or interventions, helps patient’s families to cope with and care for loved ones, improves patient’s response to treatments, etc.