6 Important Facts for Families about Hospice Elder Care
Hospice Elder Care in Chico CA
Hospice elder care is an end-of-life care option that offers patients who are terminally ill the support that they need to manage that illness. People typically enter hospice when they are expected to have six months or less left to live, but that is a recommendation. Families need to understand as much as possible about how hospice elder care helps them and their family member to navigate this stage of life.
Most People Choose Hospice Elder Care at Home
Hospice care can be provided in many different types of settings, including the person’s home, a hospice facility, or a nursing home. But most people who opt for hospice do so in order to remain in their own home while also getting the care that they need. Hospice care provides a team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide medical, emotional, and spiritual support to the patient and their family.
Hospice Is about Managing Symptoms, Including Pain
The main goal of hospice elder care is to keep seniors as comfortable as possible, which means developing plans for managing symptoms, especially pain. This symptom management is about improving quality of life as much as possible for hospice patients. A variety of techniques and therapies might be involved in someone’s care plan depending on the symptoms that they’re experiencing.
Hospice Also Offers Spiritual and Emotional Support
The end of someone’s life is often a time when they need more help with both spiritual and emotional support. Even people who aren’t very religious can find that this time of their life brings up a variety of questions and concerns. Hospice providers can connect families and patients with the resources they need to meet these needs.
Respite Care Is Also an Option
Often family caregivers are spread thin and doing as much as they possibly can. It’s vital to have the resources and support that they need in order to keep being there for their family members. Hospice can offer respite care, which allows family caregivers to spend time recovering as much as they need to.
Hospice Is not a Curative Type of Care
Something that sometimes confuses patients and family members is that hospice elder care is not a curative form of treatment. Curative treatments may no longer be working for the patient, which is why seeking out hospice is appropriate. Hospice allows the focus to remain on comfort and support.
Starting Hospice Elder Care Later May Not Be Better
There can also be some debate about whether it’s better or not for patients to wait until they’re sure they’re at the end of their lives before beginning hospice treatment. But waiting too long to enter hospice can mean that patients are not getting help that they could very much use.
The more informed family members and patients are about hospice elder care and how it can help people near the end of their lives, the better they can feel about the decisions they’re making. Patients should talk to their doctors about end-of-life concerns, including when hospice is most appropriate for their situation.
If you are considering hospice elder care in Chico, CA, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at PIC Comfort Care today. Call (530) 885-9948.
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