Hospice care concentrates on keeping quality of life high. Hospice professionals work to keep each patient pain-free. For patients with HIV, Hospice services work to reduce distressing symptoms related to HIV, including thrush, diarrhea, secondary cancer, lung infections, appetite loss, and fatigue. Nurses make regular home visits to monitor medication regimen and vital signs. Hospice chaplains counsel patients in a caring, sympathetic manner.
Social workers offer attentive listening and help with finding other resources in the community.
Everyone who loves and cares for the patient is part of the Hospice team. Staff train loved ones to be confident caregivers. Any Hospice service can be declined. The patient's wishes are the barometer that measures how well services have been provided. All loved ones are trained to be caregivers as needed.