Hospice Care Helps Family Members Cope With End Of Life

When home hospice care is chosen, a family member typically takes control and acts as the primary caregiver.
A hospice care program provides resources to family and friends of the person terminally ill and when they need extra care. Hospice care can include spiritual support to ensure the family is aware of what will happen when the senior dies, and arrange grief counseling once the loved one passes.

If you are losing a loved one to a terminal disease or critical illness, you will naturally want to spend as much time as possible with them during the final days and months of their lives. For many families, this leads to the decision in hiring an agency who provides hospice care at home. When home hospice care is administered at home, the family member will take control of managing elder care and take on responsibilities of a primary caregiver.

Just because the family is overseeing the care management of the one who is ill, the hospice care staff will oversee the attention and act as a main resource for the family, by teaching them how to effectively care for the senior; provide the equipment and supplies that will be needed to provide the care; explain how to administer required medications and provide additional support. Choosing home hospice care, doesnt mean that families are on their own; help is still provided from the hospice care agency; professionals remain on call to answer questions, regardless of the time that they occur; can drop by periodically to check in; provide respite care when the caregiver needs a break; and engages the family in the planning process.

Remember that hospice care is considered to be the model for highest quality of care. The hospice care staff gives compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness and the palliative care will involve a team-oriented approach to medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the persons needs and wishes.

The focus of hospice relies on the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity, and that our loved ones will receive the necessary support to allow us to help them in such a way.

If you are facing a need to hire hospice care please use this list of things to think about as you consider hospice care alternatives.

Draw up an advance directive to authorize a person you trust to make decisions on your behalf, if you are not able to make critical decisions.
Do your research and find out as much as you can about hospice care.
Make sure you understand how hospice care is paid for
Discuss all the concerns up front with those you love.
Talk to your healthcare medical team about your concerns.
Learn who provides hospice care and exactly the services you will receive during your time of need. For more information about where to find hospice care call 1-904-737-7667.

Knowing that you will lose a loved one can be incredibly difficult, but with the right support and commitment; it is possible to spend every last moment with them.