Why Should You Consider Home Nursing for Hospice

Despite popular belief, hospice is not a place but a philosophy of care. Hospice cares for people wherever they call home, whether it be a nursing home, assisted living facility or their own home. This special kind of care focuses on improving the quality of life for people who are experiencing a life-limiting illness. Usually, people start hospice once curative treatments no longer work and they are expected to live six months or less.

As part of hospice care, your loved one will receive the following:

• Palliative care. Also called supportive care or comfort care, this level of care is often provided alongside hospice. It looks at how the illness is affecting the person as a whole and relieves symptoms, pain, and stress.
• Spiritual care. Spiritual care is important when nearing the end of life. Since everyone has different beliefs, spiritual care will meet your specific needs from a non-denominational team member. It can help with saying goodbye or planning a religious ritual.
• Family meetings. Hospice extends to the family as well as the patient. Regularly scheduled meetings keep family members informed and gives everyone a chance to be seen and heard.
• Bereavement care. Bereavement is the period of mourning after a loss. Bereavement care is typically included for 13 months after the patient’s death and includes visits, phone calls, and support groups.

Why You Might Want to Add Home Nursing Care

As you can see, hospice care is a comprehensive level of care that offers patients and their families a great deal of support during the final stages of life. If your loved one is still living after six months, hospice can be renewed. Also, please know that hospice can actually increase life expectancy – not decrease it.

However, some families find that they can still benefit from additional home nursing services. Home nursing is nursing care provided in the home environment rather than a hospital.

If your loved one has medical needs that require ongoing care, it may help to enlist home nursing along with hospice services. Your home nursing team will collaborate with the hospice team to offer the highest quality of care. They can also assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, grooming, and toileting.

To learn more about bridging the gap for your loved one’s care, contact VNA Health Group today.