Taking care of an older relative is a noble effort for any family member to undertake. When the task becomes too difficult for only one person to bear, transitioning to hospice care is a good option for primary caregivers, the relative who needs the care, and for the rest of the family.
However, not everyone may think highly of the situation, if they do not understand the principle of hospice. The good news is that there are steps that can be taken to ensure that this difficult transition can go as smoothly as possible. Knowing how to handle this major life change will help you and the rest of your family become accustomed to it.This blog post will outline the steps that you and your loved ones may take to successfully transition into hospice care.
Steps for Families
It is a big step when a family decides to have their loved one go into hospice care. This conversation will be guided with the advice of a doctor to ensure that the best understand the disease process and recommendations of hospice care. When your family undergoes this change, here are some effective steps you can take.
- Talk to the Whole Family. The whole family should be involved in the decision-making process. Everyone should know and be given a chance to voice out their opinion on the matter, including the family member who is going to be put into hospice care. Once in hospice care, this same idea will be used. Hospice provides tailored care with your voice, wishes, and needs at the forefront of every care plan.
- Understand What Hospice Care Is. Everyone should understand what hospice care means. This is not a treatment option that will be curing the medical condition the person has but provide comfort, empathy, and support in the final days of your loved one’s life. When you are referred to hospice, early involvement is better to receive all of the benefits that go along with hospice. You will have a team of members working with specialists and doctors to provide the best level of care including spiritual support from chaplains.
- Give Your Loved One Time to Grieve and Accept the Situation. It is understandable that your loved one may need time to accept the overall situation they are facing. Before putting them into hospice care, it is important to allow them enough time to accept what is happening. Schedule a time for them to talk about their concerns with others. Contact a hospice company to sit down and explain the process and options so that everyone is comfortable with the direction hospice can assist your family.
- Find the Right Hospice Care Provider. Selecting the right hospice care provider will make or break your experience. Look at the hospice and how they compare to others within that area. Look at additional services that make them stand out from others. Research their ranking within the state and where the service area that they provide services too. Reviews are always good to read to ensure the company will meet your family’s needs.
- Work Together with the Hospice Team. A good hospice team allows you to work together with them to ensure that your loved one is always comfortable, less pain, and even happy in the final moments. Being surrounded by people they love along with getting the medical care they need will go a long way. Do not be afraid to write down questions and concerns for the team. Be sure to build a relationship with the team members so that when anything arises, the team can provide the most support during that time.
Golden Rule Hospice: Hospice Care Atlanta
When someone needs hospice care, it should be provided with high standards. Working with the right hospice care provider will ensure that all the needs of your loved one will be met and that they will have everything they need to pass on peacefully.
If you need to put someone you care for under hospice care, come to Golden Rule Hospice. We want to ensure that your loved one has everything they need to be comfortable in this difficult transition. Interested parties that need home care hospice may call (470) 395-6567 for more inquiries.
We live by the Golden Rule
Treat others the way you would like to be treated.