Inpatient Hospice Care
Sometimes hospice patients develop symptoms that are not easily managed with routine care in the home and require more intense medical treatment. Whenever situations arise that need additional attention that cannot be provided at home, inpatient hospice care is available.
UnityPoint Hospice has a professional staff available 24 hours a day to provide medical care in a supportive, inpatient environment at UnityPoint Hospice – Taylor House in Des Moines.
Our compassionate team also provides inpatient hospice care in many UnityPoint Health hospitals, as well as in community nursing homes. Inpatient hospice care is considered short-term care, so as soon as the symptoms are manageable again by the primary caregiver, the patient will be discharged.
Depending on location availability and care needs, inpatient hospice services may include:
- Nursing care
- Social services
- Spiritual care
- Hospice aides
- Comfort therapies, such as music, art and pet therapy
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy
- Oxygen and special medications, such as chemotherapy (for symptom management only, not for curative treatment)
- Volunteer companionship
Levels of Hospice Care
The most common level of hospice care is routine care, which is provided in the patient's home and includes regular visits from their care team.
General inpatient care is needed when a patient experiences uncontrolled pain and symptoms that cannot be successfully managed at home. This level of hospice care is still considered short-term care, so once the pain and symptoms are under control, the patient can return to home hospice care.
Respite inpatient care is offered for hospice patients whose primary caregivers need a break, which is normal and often necessary for the physical and emotional well-being of the caregiver.
UnityPoint Health Hospice Facilities
UnityPoint Health is proud to serve hospice patients and their families in communities in Iowa and Illinois. Hospice care is provided in these inpatient and outpatient settings: