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The Beauty of Hospice Care

Hospice care is provided for terminally ill patients who have chosen not to continue curative treatments.  They receive care from a relative or friend with the support of a hospice medical team usually in their own residence.  To qualify for hospice a patient must be diagnosed with an incurable disease with a life expectancy of six months or less.  But hospice care does not mean just waiting for death.  It means living life and experiencing the heartwarming rewards of each moment.  There are many beautiful things about hospice for patients, caregivers, and the hospice team. 

Patients:  The patients appreciate the familiarity of home and surround themselves with loved ones.  They enjoy food they help plan and prepare when feasible.   They dress in clothes of their own choosing.  They engage in activities when they have the stamina.  They have a say in the who and the when of entertaining guests.

Caregivers:  The caregivers appreciate the comfort and belonging of the private residence.  They share meals and conversation with their charge.  They have the opportunity to explore memories, insights, and events of the past alongside their loved one.  They participate in the daily life of their friend knowing their care is needed and appreciated. 

Hospice team:  The hospice team—physician, nurses, counselor, chaplain, volunteers—witness the change of focus from “dying soon” to living each precious day.  They treasure the moments when anxiety melts away from the faces of caregivers over end of life planning due to the team’s assistance and expertise.  They cherish the transformation in a patient’s self-worth simply because the team treats them with dignity and genuine concern.

One of the most beautiful things about hospice that touches all involved is the knowledge and reality that in the moment of passing the patient is never alone but surrounded by those who care the most.

Hospice exists exclusively for the terminally ill with short lifespans, however, the end is not the focus.  Living to the end is the ultimate beauty of hospice care.

Gifted Hearts Hospice and Palliative Care in Seguin, TX, is a fully staffed facility available to patients who call South Central Texas their home.  It is nestled in the beautiful New Braunfels area as the best hospice near San Antonio, Texas.  It offers palliative care for patients of any age in any stage of illness.  It also offers all four levels of hospice care and maintains its motto: “Live until you Leave.”