So you’ve finally made the decision as caregiver to a terminally ill patient that you would like to go in for hospice care.
It must have been a difficult decision to make but you and all concerned have realized that the treatment has gone as far as it could. And now the patient would like to be in a place where there is warmth and caring, while they spend time with their loved ones.
You must first understand that hospice is not a place, it is a program. Hospice care can be undertaken even at home. It is built on the philosophy that the quality of life and its dignity are important.
The family is involved in the caring and the emphasis is on the affirmation of life.
Hospice care enables a patient to manage pain and other symptoms so that they can be as comfortable as possible.
Hospice care will involve physicians and nurses, and also trained volunteers who will provide overall care that sustains you physically and emotionally.
Another main decision here is who will be the primary care giver for the patient.
If it is a family member or members then the hospice program should offer a respite so that the caregivers can take much needed rest at intervals while not worrying about how the patient is faring.
Once you have made the decision to render hospice care available to the patient you need to find out the resources available.
There are programs and professionals who provide hospice care. There are special hospice residences also. Your family doctor or the hospital where the treatment is taking place can give you information on hospice care.
Local health and social services can offer expert advice on what kind of program to choose. There are also home care agencies that offer nursing care and medical equipment.
The hospice program will set up the equipment the patient needs and train the caregiver to administer the medication.
If skilled nursing is required, this service may be offered by the hospice depending on the kind of treatment the patient is undergoing.
You can pay for home care with your family’s help or through private health insurance. Some hospices offer healthcare services depending on a patient’s income and resources.
You may also want to look at family counseling either for spiritual or emotional comfort.
Hospice care takes into account the changes a person is going through at the end of their days, as well as the family’s own sense of impending bereavement.
It offers the guidance and support of professionals who help the patient and the family to talk about their stresses in the situation.
Make an informed decision about hospice care. Take into account the patient’s own wishes.
See to it that all members of the immediate family are involved in the decision and that everybody is clear about who the caregivers are.
Talk to people who have been though a similar situation and what they feel about hospice care. You can provide the patient with a great deal of comfort when making this decision based on physical, emotional, and spiritual factors.
