Choosing hospice care for your loved one might bring up a variety of emotions for you and your family. For many, hospice can signify the loss of a loved one, or like they’re giving up. However, when hospice care can be provided at home, we can look at it like getting our loved one’s back.
That’s because hospice care is about keeping a patient at ease — it’s the next step when treatment has stopped working, and provides a holistic care plan for those who are terminally ill. And best of all, it can be provided right in the comfort of the patient’s home.
What is Hospice Care?
As we mentioned above, hospice care is about keeping a patient comfortable who is terminally ill. It’s about managing symptoms without invasive treatments, and essentially is a way for patients to live their best quality of life. Additionally, hospice provides support and comfort for the patient’s family.
Hospice care utilizes a holistic philosophy of care: treating the mind, body, and spirit. This care is provided by a hospice team, which usually consists of:
• Your loved one’s primary care physician
• The hospice medical director
• The RN case manager
• A social worker
• A chaplain
• A bereavement counselor
• A home health aide
• A hospice volunteer
As you can see, there are support systems included that provide counseling for not just the patient, but the family members of the patient, as well.
Receiving Hospice Care at Home
Hospice care in the home is the best way for a patient to adjust to his or her circumstances and remain as comfortable as possible. While you may already know there are inpatient facilities that provide hospice care, they only become necessary if your loved one’s condition calls for them.
Receiving hospice care at home gives your loved one access to special services, some of which include:
• Emotional counseling. Your loved one can receive counseling for emotional peace of mind through hospice.
• Specialized therapy. Art therapy, music therapy, and other specific areas can provide extra support for a patient in hospice care.
• Home assistance. Hospice care also includes having help with activities of daily living, or ADLs. Having a home aide can help with personal hygiene, bathing, mobility assistance, or companionship.
• Pain and symptom supervision. As we mentioned, hospice care provides pain and symptom management, as opposed to invasive treatment.
• Dietary care. Your loved one’s condition may call for an adjustment in diet, which can be provided by hospice.
Learn More About Hospice Care at Home
While terminal illness or elderly age can cause so many changes for your loved one, receiving hospice care at home can make adjustments more subtle and comfortable.
If you’d like to learn more about hospice care at home, contact our team at WellSprings Home Care today! 610-463-0880
