Helping a loved one transition into hospice care can be a hard task. Not only can it be an emotionally demanding time for both you and your loved one, but it can also be challenging to navigate this new type of care.
You may wonder how you can best support your loved one and what your family’s role is in an at-home hospice environment. Read on to learn more about how your family can stay involved in your loved one’s care and why it is important.
What Is At-Home Hospice Care?
Hospice is a type of healthcare that focuses on keeping patients comfortable and happy as they navigate terminal illness. Hospice care nurses help manage symptoms, soothe pain, and provide emotional support for their patients.
Some patients go into specialized hospice care facilities that operate similarly to nursing homes. However, other patients choose to receive hospice care from the comfort of their homes.
In an at-home hospice scenario, a hospice nurse from organizations like United Hospice may visit to administer medications, change dressings, and attend to your loved one’s needs. They may even sit with their patient and provide friendly conversation to help improve their quality of life.
Why Is It Important for Families To Participate in Hospice Care?
When your loved one goes into at-home hospice care, and you are navigating your new role as a family, it is important to remember what it means for you to be involved. In most cases, having family nearby on a regular basis can help patients feel more relaxed. Seeing those familiar faces is part of what these patients need to feel comfortable with their new situations.
Additionally, this extra time can help your family build lasting memories and share meaningful experiences. These memories can help your family remember this time fondly. It can also help your family find closure as your loved one nears the end of their hospice care.
Finally, being involved in your loved one’s care as a family can help bring your family together. It can provide an opening for your family to grieve and process these changes together as you help your loved one stay comfortable.
How Can the Family Get Involved in At-Home Hospice Care?
It is clear that having the family involved in at-home hospice is highly important. However, it might be hard to know what your family’s role is in this new environment — after all, the hospice nurse will likely be handling all of your loved one’s immediate care needs.
Remember that your family plays a role for your loved one that no care provider can replace simply by being present. Beyond that, there are also some practical ways that you can get involved with your loved one’s care.
Physical Care
Depending on your loved one’s needs, finances, and the availability of your hospice provider, your loved one’s hospice nurse may only be there for a certain amount of time. While they are gone, your family may need to bathe, dress, and feed your loved one.
You can also cook for them even when the hospice nurse is there — your loved one will likely enjoy some of their favorite comfort recipes while they navigate this transition. You can also help in more practical ways, such as making sure groceries are stocked and the house is cleaned.
Emotional Care
This is one of the areas in which your family is most needed. As your loved one adjusts to hospice care, they will need someone they can talk to. Let them adjust however they need to. Your loved one may want to discuss how they feel about these changes, or they may simply want some lighthearted conversations to help them feel more at home.
Find ways for your family to spend time with your loved one, depending on their needs. If they are up for it, a relaxed night of TV, family dinner, or a night swapping stories could be just what they need to lift their spirits.
Coordination of Care
Finally, your family will likely have a solid role when it comes to coordinating your loved one’s care. You will probably be the first line of communication for the at-home hospice provider, and you will work with the provider to stay up to date on your loved one’s needs.
You will also be scheduling appointments for your loved one and transporting them to and from these appointments. If needed, you may even need to act as an advocate for your loved one to the hospice provider.
The Importance of Prioritizing Mental Health
No matter how your family is involved in taking care of your loved one, the role still comes with its emotional challenges. It may be wise to regularly check in with each member of your family and schedule some family counseling if it is needed.
Everyone processes emotional challenges like grief and bereavement differently. Some of your family members may be open about their feelings, while others may appear to have it all together. No matter what, make sure you are taking care of the needs of your family as well as those of your loved ones.
The Bottom Line
At-home hospice care is a way for patients with terminal illnesses to stay comfortable in their own homes as they approach their end of life. Families with loved ones in at-home hospice care can stay involved by managing their loved one’s physical care, providing emotional care, and coordinating with hospice care providers.
Sources:
- Five Ways to Help Your Child Remember and Celebrate Loved Ones | HealthyChildren.org
- Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life | National Institute on Aging
- Bereavement and Grief | Mental Health America
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
