Benefits of a Hospice Center

A core component of hospice care is the firm commitment to nurturing patients and their families. With this goal in mind, it’s important to understand the two types of patients hospice centers typically serve:

  1. Individuals on a general inpatient level of care.
    These patients can only receive care within an inpatient setting. Care can also be administered within a hospital or skilled nursing setting.
  2. Residential patients.

These patients could receive in-home hospice, but they either don’t have caregivers available or their home environment isn’t conducive to receiving care. For instance, patients may have young children present within their homes or their care needs might be difficult to manage.

Joni Watson, director of business development, noted inpatient and residential hospice care patients benefit greatly from the multitude of resources available at a provider like the T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center. Hospice centers tend to have various amenities that might not be readily available within a home, hospital or skilled nursing setting.

“We like to think of The Pickens Center not as a hospice provider, but as a patient and family care center,” explained Watson. “We have an experienced staff that’s fully equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and equipment. Every aspect of our center is also designed to accommodate the entire family’s needs beyond just the clinical.”
Some patient-and-family-centered amenities at The Pickens Center include:

  • Multiple dining areas, including family dining and a café
  • Children’s playroom
  • Teen area with Wi-Fi, books, TV and more
  • Exercise room
  • Lounges, sunrooms and open areas for families to meet in small groups
  • Laundry facilities
  • Large, private suites to accommodate both patients and their families
  • Spiritual care center open to all faiths

While hospice centers offer compelling benefits, Watson acknowledged that many patients and their families would ideally like to receive care within the comforts of their own homes. However, she noted the primary advantage of inpatient hospice care like that offered at The Pickens Center is the capacity to overcome any barriers to care that might arise.

“Oftentimes, families come to the conclusion that hospice care is difficult or challenging to administer at home,” added Watson. “Thankfully, The Pickens Center is a very comfortable place for our patients and their loved ones during a very difficult time. We try our best to offer an environment that can truly become a home away from home.”