Later, as more funds become available, nursing, administrative and medical staff are employed. However, trained volunteers continue to make a valuable contribution to the care.
Ideally, people with a wide range of skills and experience are attached to the home care team. The terminally ill patient has problems which are often difficult to solve. Only a multi-disciplinary team can provide innovative solutions to these complex problems.
Some hospice home care programs are linked to an inpatient hospice or a palliative care unit based at a hospital. This arrangement has many advantages. If the patient needs urgent admission, this can be arranged very quickly. Staff can be rotated through both the inpatient facility and the home care service. Specialist advice, equipment and emergency drugs are easily accessible.
THE ROLE OF THE HOME CARE TEAM
The main goal of the hospice home care team is to maximize the quality of life of the patient. The focus of the team is on the person, rather than on the disease which the person has.
