Hospice care focuses on quality of living during the last days, weeks or months of life. During hospice care, members of your hospice team visit your home to provide medical care, counseling services, and spiritual support in a familiar environment. If you or your family member plan to remain at your home while in hospice, preparing ahead of time can help ease the stress of transitioning to hospice care.
Furniture and Living Accommodations
Comfort and safety are two main goals of hospice care which is why hospice providers like Three Oaks Hospice are there to assist in both areas. Three Oaks Hospice provides many of the supplies you need when you start hospice, and these supplies are typically covered by hospice benefit. Hospital beds, shower chairs, wheelchairs, walkers and other durable medical equipment are provided for patients. The Durable Medical Equipment (DME) company will assemble medical equipment, such as hospital beds or oxygen equipment, to ensure proper set-up. Your equipment needs may change over time, and your hospice team tracks your condition to determine what DME is needed.
Trip hazards can pose a danger to hospice patients with limited mobility or vision difficulties. Help prevent falls by clearing away rugs that might bunch up, cords that stretch across the floor and low furniture. It’s especially important to clear corridors and hallways to help prevent tripping.
Knowing What to Expect from Hospice
Hospice workers may include nurses, home health aides, spiritual counselors and volunteers. When you or your loved one enters hospice, a nurse provides an individualized assessment. This assessment helps all the members of your hospice team work together to provide the specific services you need. Because every hospice patient is different, your care binders might include information on medication schedules, daily routines and contact details for medical providers.
During hospice care, a variety of care providers come directly to your home to help you manage the terminal illness, assist with daily living activities and provide emotional and physical support. Home health aides may provide assistance with bathing as a part of care.
Putting the Focus on Comfort
Because the aim of hospice care is to improve the quality of life, comfort is a major factor. If you or your relative possess specific treasured items that bring comfort and joy, make sure to keep those accessible. This might mean keeping a cozy throw on the sofa or hanging photos of grandchildren in a bedroom. It may also involve stocking up on a preferred body lotion or lip balm that the hospice patient enjoys. Keeping the patient’s favorite foods on hand, subject to any dietary restrictions, is another way to maintain a familiar, enjoyable environment. You might also opt to set up a television near the patient’s bed or in front of a cozy, supportive chair for watching a favorite program. To learn more about how to prepare your for hospice care, contact Three Oaks Hospice today.