Liver Disease & Hospice
How Hospice East Bay helps people living with Liver Disease
Support for Patients
- Managing medications to ease pain, nausea, itching, or confusion caused by liver toxins.
- Managing breathing difficulties caused by fluid buildup in the lungs or abdomen.
- Helping control swelling and discomfort from fluid retention (ascites).
- Teaching families how to drain fluid from the abdomen if a permanent drain is in place.
- Supplying hospital beds and other equipment to make patients more comfortable.
- Offering guidance on managing weight loss and nutrition.
- Hospice shifts the focus from curative treatments to ensuring patients are as comfortable as possible during this stage of life.
Our Bruns House inpatient facility provides short-term intensive treatment in a homelike setting for management of uncontrolled symptoms.
Support for Families & Caregivers
- Teaching families how to manage symptoms like fluid buildup, confusion, or restlessness.
- Helping families understand what to expect as liver failure progresses and preparing them for changes in their loved one’s condition.
- Providing emotional care to help families cope with the challenges of caregiving and the approaching end of life.
- Assisting with nutritional concerns and offering advice on maintaining the patient’s comfort at home.
- Hospice staff are available around the clock to answer questions, address concerns, and provide emergency support when needed.
Support for Veterans
- Hospice East Bay’s Veteran-Centered Care program helps veterans living with liver failure by addressing the unique challenges they may face due to military service, such as navigating the VA healthcare system, and ensuring they have access to programs that provide caregiver support and compensation.
- Veterans with liver disease, particularly as a result of alcohol use, may experience guilt or self-blame. Hospice East Bay provides emotional support to help them process these feelings.
- Families of veterans may struggle with unresolved feelings and challenges related to past alcohol use. Hospice East Bay offers resources and support services to help families navigate these emotions.
How to Qualify
Hospice Care helps people living with advanced liver disease when their health is significantly declining. You or your loved one may qualify for hospice care if you experience:
- Fluid buildup in the belly (ascites) that no longer responds to treatment.
- Confusion or memory problems caused by toxins from liver failure (hepatic encephalopathy).
- Ongoing weight loss or muscle wasting, even with normal eating.
- Kidney problems linked to liver failure (hepatorenal syndrome).
- Recurring internal bleeding (such as from varices).
- Low protein levels (serum albumin < 2.5 g/dL) and prolonged clotting times (INR > 1.5).
- Liver cancer or untreated hepatitis B or C.
- Continued alcohol use contributing to liver damage.
How Palliative Care Can Help
- Emotional and psychosocial support includes counseling to address anxiety, depression, or fear related to the disease.
- Symptom management and relief focuses on reducing pain and other challenging symptoms while enhancing the patient’s overall quality of life.
- Goals-of-care discussions identify what it means for the patient to live well—their goals, values, and treatment preferences—to support informed decision-making by patients and families.
- Care coordination with the appropriate specialists (such as oncologists, neurologists, or primary care providers) to align treatment with the patient’s goals and evolving needs.
- Transition planning for when curative treatments are no longer effective or meeting the patient’s goals and values.
- Future planning and advance directives involve supporting patients in designating healthcare decision-makers and completing medical and legal planning documents.
Hospice East Bay ensures that patients with Liver Disease receive compassionate, tailored care while families feel supported, educated, and prepared for the journey ahead.
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