For many people, hospice is an intimidating word that’s associated with the end of life. And although hospice is indeed for those who are very sick, hospice care can be highly beneficial to patients and their families. Even though it addresses the patient’s care, comfort, and quality of life, hospice alone cannot meet all patients’ daily needs. When friends and family can no longer fill in those caregiving gaps, another approach is to hire an outside caregiver. Here are several reasons why professional hospice support care might be your family’s best option.
What is Hospice Support Care?
Caring for a terminally ill loved one can seem like a full-time job with everything else on your plate. But once your loved one has expressed the desire to remain at home while receiving care, you’ll want to honor their wishes.
As a type of professional respite care, hospice support care allows informal caregivers to take time off so that they can stay refreshed. Hospice support can be for as short as a few hours or for as long as several weeks or months.
Professional hospice support caregivers typically provide these services:
- Light housekeeping
- Bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene
- Companionship
- Food shopping and meals
- Medication reminders
- Transportation
Why Hospice Support Care Makes Perfect Sense
Here are some of the ways that in-home hospice support care supports recipients and their families:
Provides a familiar environment
As opposed to a nursing home or hospice facility, hospice care can be provided in the comfortable surroundings of your loved one’s home. Receiving care in an environment that’s familiar, quiet, and calm is a winning combination for patients and their families.
Care is personalized
Nursing home and hospital staff are required to take care of multiple patients, making it difficult for them to focus their attention on only a few. From supplying much-needed companionship and socialization to preparing your loved one’s favorite foods, the personalized care that a professional in-home caregiver can provide cannot be duplicated in a facility.
Ensures comprehensive care
As was mentioned earlier, hospice support care is all about filling in the care gaps that are not met by your loved one’s hospice care team. A professional caregiver can communicate with hospice team members and provide them with status updates to ensure that your loved one receives the nurturing and attention they deserve.
Maintains quality of life
Because of the relative freedom and independence that it provides, in-home hospice support is much better for the patient’s quality of life and well-being versus dying in a facility. While living out the remainder of their life in the peaceful, quiet surroundings of their own home, your loved one can die with dignity knowing that they are loved.
Lessons on the financial burden
Hospital or nursing home bills can be overwhelming for the average family. Under in-home hospice supervision, out-of-pocket costs are significantly reduced. Professional in-home hospice support provides the means to lessen the family’s financial burden by keeping their loved one in a private residence.
Respects their last wishes
Most importantly, by keeping a friend or relative in a home-based hospice, families can focus on spending time with them rather than dealing with the red tape and bureaucracy often associated with a hospital or long-term care environment. Knowing that a dying loved one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual pain is being addressed allows friends and relatives to invest all precious time remaining to concentrate on the most important things to them.
Client-Trusted Hospice Support Care Services in Bradenton, FL
Although it’s a labor of love, caring for a friend or relative in hospice can be physically and emotionally exhausting. When you need to take a well-deserved break, contact First In Care. Once you do, our compassionate caregivers will step in and provide your loved ones with the nurturing and companionship they deserve. While serving as an extended family in your loved one’s home, our highly trained professionals understand what’s required to maintain a client’s quality of life, along with their dignity and self-esteem.
The caring professionals at First In Care can help you customize a hospice support care program based on your family’s needs. We provide in-home support for daily living activities that include personal hygiene, light housework, medication reminders, meals, companionship, and transportation. Our senior caregiving services are affordable, flexible, and always delivered in a seamless package that restores your peace of mind. To learn more now about our private home health and concierge services in Bradenton and Manatee County, Florida, please visit www.firstincare.com.
