This week’s blog features guest writer Christian Worstell.
Choosing hospice care for your loved one can be an extremely difficult decision to make. However, you may find comfort in knowing that you are doing the right thing.
What is the Purpose of Hospice?
Hospice care is specialized care that focuses on an individual’s quality of life during their final life stages. The goal is not to treat a condition, but rather to help ease and control symptoms of terminal illnesses. Hospice care providers aim to make a patient’s experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Hospice care can also help with pain management. In fact, research shows that focusing on pain control can even help extend life.
Preparing for Hospice
Preparing yourself and your loved one for the change to hospice care can be challenging.
It’s important for both parties to feel comfortable with the decision to begin hospice care and that you and your loved one fully understand the type of care being received. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask certain questions about hospice before making the transition.
Questions to Ask
What are the different services provided in hospice care?
How are emergency situations handled?
Is the hospice care provider or team members certified?
Will I be involved and communicated to as often as possible?
Evaluating Your Hospice Care Provider
When deciding on hospice care, make sure you thoroughly evaluate the hospice care provider. After all, you have to trust this team or individual with your loved one so this step is extremely important. Be sure to ask the hospice care provider to explain their care methods to you and your loved one. You’ll also need to check your loved one’s coverage for hospice services. Some parts of hospice care are covered under Medicaid or Medicare, but you should consult your plan.
Shifting Your Mindset
One of the biggest challenges you might face when changing to hospice care will be your mindset. Your thoughts and feelings will have a large effect on the transition.
Here are some important thoughts to keep in mind:
Accept your loved one’s condition and embrace the final stages of life. Do not try to postpone or quicken the process.
Be accepting of the care and recognize that hospice care teams have many years of training and experience in their field.
Trust and confide in your loved one’s hospice caregiver.
Don’t be afraid to ask how long the dying process may last. You want to have clear expectations, so let them know what you expect and vice versa.
Spend as much quality time as you can with your loved one. You may want to discuss things like wills and funeral arrangements. If it’s too difficult for you, your hospice care provider can help.
Making the change to hospice care will never be easy, but the right guidance and preparation can help ease you and your loved one into this final chapter in a loving and caring way.
Author Bio: Christian Worstell is a health and lifestyle writer living in Raleigh, North Carolina.