Terminal illness brings a lot of challenges to the ill person and their loved ones. That’s when hospice care services are acquired.

They provide a team of professionals to help the ill person and their family when the patient has stopped treatment and only has a few months to live. The care team involves doctors, nurses, as well as home aides if in-home hospice care is preferred. 

There are inpatient hospice facilities where the patient is admitted, and the facility’s team provides end-of-life care.

However, there are times when the patient chooses to receive hospice services in the comfort of their home. It’s a good thing that there are agencies that provide this service.

For home hospice care, a care team is provided to make sure that the patient is properly cared for and there is support for the people around them. Usually, there is also a primary caregiver who is in charge of looking after the patient. 

What does the primary caregiver do in hospice home care?

The primary caregiver’s main responsibility is to look after the patient.

It will be scary and stressful to see a loved one suffer and be with them on their end of life moments. This is where the hospice team comes in.

They will work with the primary carer and patient to develop a care plan based on the patient’s specific needs and preferences. The primary carer will help make decisions with or for the person receiving hospice care services.

Here are the usual responsibilities of a primary caregiver:

Personal Care of the Patient

This involves helping the patient with cleaning themselves or their things and other basic hygiene routines.

Monitoring Medications and Medical Care

This is to make sure that medications are taken properly. If the patient has any wounds or ulcers, the primary carer must make sure that they are clean and wrapped properly (if required). They also monitor the patient’s vital signs and keep a record of pain and other symptoms. 

Managing Medical Equipment

Patients who receive hospice care usually require medical equipment like a wheelchair or an oxygen tank. It is the primary caregiver’s job to familiarize themselves with how to operate these things to better help the patient.

What are the Four Levels of Hospice Care?

Routine Home Care 

The most common level. Generally stable patients with controlled symptoms receive care at home. A hospice team will conduct scheduled home visits to check on the patient and caregiver. 

Continuous Home Care

Also called crisis care. Provided when a patient needs continuous nursing care to manage acute medical symptoms. Round-the-clock nursing support is provided to the patient to also allow the caregiver to step back and rest. 

General Inpatient Care

When pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, patients can receive care in an inpatient setting such as a hospital or hospice facility. This allows the patient to be in a safe and neutral space while being cared for by professionals. 

Respite Care

To give the usual caregivers a break, patients can be temporarily placed in a facility such as a hospice center, hospital, or nursing home for a short time. This is to avoid burnout for the caregiver. 

What Are the Benefits of Hospice Care at Home?

More Quality Time

With in-home hospice care, the patient can spend more quality time with their loved ones. They can use the extra time to bond without the visiting hours of a facility. 

Familiar Environment

Receiving care at home allows patients to remain in a comfortable and familiar setting, which can be emotionally beneficial as this provides a sense of calm to the person who wishes to die at home.

Personalized Care and Support

A home hospice care is tailored to the individual’s care needs, ensuring personalized care that addresses specific medical conditions, as well as emotional and spiritual support for both the patient and their family

How To Get Hospice Care at Home

To be able to know if the ill person is eligible for hospice care at home, there are a few required qualifications. 

• The ill person’s doctor has advised that the terminally ill person only has a life expectancy of six months or less. 
• The patient with a terminal illness has decided to stop treatment. 
• The patient understands that they are no longer responding to treatments and acknowledges that hospice will provide them support and comfort until they reach the end of their life. 

Below are the steps to follow as a guide in deciding to put a loved one in hospice. 

• Open the conversation with the patient. If the patient no longer responds to treatments, it’s time to consider hospice care to provide them comfort and support until the end stages of their life.
• Get hospice care recommendations from their doctors and family members to have options.
• Health insurance usually pays for hospice care. Whether under private insurance or a government program like medicare and medicaid, check which hospice program provides the best level of care and improves the quality of life of the patient. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also covers hospice care for people who served in the military.
• Visit, assess, and interview different hospice care providers to check which one is best suited for the patient and their family. 
• Once a provider has been chosen, it’s time to proceed with the admission and receive the services.

Seeing a loved one succumb to a terminal illness and be given a few months to live is hard. But. keep in mind that it would also be hard for the patient.

Starting hospice care at home doesn’t mean giving up, but making sure that the proper help and support are received. The main goal of hospice care at home is to help the patient physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and help them be ready to face the end of their life.

At Thoughtful Home Care, Inc., we believe that every individual deserves to receive exceptional care and support during their end-of-life journey. Our hospice/home health support services are designed to provide compassionate care and support to individuals and their families during this difficult time.

Our team of caregivers is highly trained and experienced in providing emotional, spiritual, and physical support to help our clients and their families navigate this difficult chapter with comfort, dignity, and peace of mind.