South NJ Hospice Care for COPD Patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. According to the World Health Organization, it is the third leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.23 million deaths in 2019.

COPD is a common, preventable, and treatable chronic lung disease. However, as you or your loved one approach mid-life and your COPD progresses, breathing and activities of daily living may become increasingly difficult. In cases of end-stage COPD, it may be best to consider hospice care.

Call us to Learn More about Hospice Care for COPD:

Available 24/7 (856) 596-1600

How Can Hospice Help with COPD

Choosing hospice for your loved one living with end-stage COPD is an important decision. While it may be a difficult call to make, hospice care for COPD patients can help preserve their quality of life, dignity, and comfort. This extra layer of support becomes even more essential as their illness progresses, and their needs intensify.

Hospice care for COPD patients includes a team of trained professionals. The team members include a board-certified physician, hospice-certified nurse, social worker, spiritual support counselor, certified home health aide, and a volunteer.

The hospice team can help in many ways:

The nurse addresses pain and symptoms your loved one may be experiencing, including labored breathing and wheezing, delirium, and an irregular heartbeat.
The certified home health aide does not administer medications but will help with personal hygiene. They provide bed baths and changes the bed linens. They can help with repositioning in bed and moving between the bed and a chair. Your hospice home health aide may assist with laundry, cleaning, and preparing small meals for your loved one like eggs, sandwiches, and other light snacks.
A social worker will aid with emotional needs. They can help you understand care options, complete an advance directive, and connect you with community resources.
A spiritual support counselor can help explore spiritual concerns; make sense out of life’s changes; reconcile feelings of guilt or regret; and discover sources of hope, and more.
A volunteer offers companionship and provides you, the caregiver, a much-needed break. Caring for a someone with COPD is overwhelming, when a volunteer visits this can provide a good opportunity for you to get some rest or run a quick errand.

Most importantly, when you call hospice for your loved one with end-stage COPD, you will experience peace of mind thanks to 24/7 phone access to COPD and hospice experts. If you have a question or need additional help, call Samaritan 24/7 at (856) 596-1600.

Why Choose Samaritan for COPD Hospice Care in South NJ

Samaritan is the premier provider of hospice care for COPD patients in South Jersey. Plus, the organization has all the qualities that you should choose in a hospice according to a recent Consumer Reports article:

Not-for-profit
Has more than 20 years of experience
Employs hospice-certified nurses
Has a palliative care program
Has an inpatient center
Has Medicare approval

Samaritan exceeds those recommendations by being a non-profit organization with:

More than 40 years’ experience serving South New Jersey
Employing hospice and palliative certified physicians, nurses, and advanced practice nurses
Offering at home palliative and primary care programs
Having two conveniently-located South NJ inpatient centers
Maintaining Medicare approval and The Joint Commission accreditation

Two inpatient hospice centers:

Samaritan has inpatient centers for managing symptoms and severe pain, located in Voorhees and Virtua Memorial in Mount Holly. The Centers are designed for short-term stays for COPD patients who are experiencing severe muscle or joint pain, contractures, difficulty breathing or agitation.

Complementary Therapies:

Samaritan goes above and beyond for COPD hospice patients, as we also offer several complementary therapies. These services include music, massage, and pet therapies. Music therapy can help COPD patients with disease-related symptoms, as well as anxiety. Massage therapy also helps with anxiety, and can relieve muscle tension. Finally, patients can receive visits from specially certified therapy dogs.

Professional Grief Counseling for Patients and Families:

Another benefit to choosing Samaritan are on-staff, professionally trained grief counselors. Grief support counseling is available for 13 months after the loss of your loved one. Samaritan can stand with you during your grief journey so you do not have to go through it alone. Individual counseling and support groups are available.

COPD Hospice Eligibility Criteria

Someone typically meets the COPD hospice criteria when their physician or specialist certifies that they have six months or less to live if their disease follows its natural course. However, do not wait for your physician to bring up hospice care.

Be a persistent healthcare advocate and inquire about hospice care sooner than later. Earlier access to hospice care ensures that you can experience the many benefits of this extra layer of support. Families always tell Samaritan they wished they called us sooner.

If you or a loved one has COPD, you are eligible for hospice if you exhibit one or more of the following hospice criteria:

Labored breathing at rest despite medication.
Difficulty with feeding, bathing and other self-care items.

See More COPD Hospice Criteria

Hospice Care & COPD Resources

Let our expert nurses determine if your loved one living with COPD is eligible for hospice care patients in South NJ.

(856) 596-1600