When your loved one has dementia and has received a six-month terminal diagnosis, they will be eligible for hospice care. By the time this happens, they may be having difficulty walking or speaking, may show a lot of anxiety, or may no longer be able to take care of themselves at all.
Hospice is provided mostly at the patient’s own home and can do a lot to help patients with dementia and their caregivers. Here are some of the benefits of your loved one starting hospice care.
- Care for complications of dementia. There is a link between dementia and increased pain. Dementia can also lead to complications such as injuries, infections, malnutrition and insomnia. Hospice workers can provide hospice care for the symptoms of dementia and complications of the disease, increasing your loved one’s comfort.
- Daily life assistance. Right now, you probably are the one providing most of the daily assistance your loved one needs. When your loved one enters hospice care, an experienced and dedicated staff can contribute to daily life assistance.
- Safety. Dementia patients who can walk may be prone to wandering off. They may also be more prone to slips, falls and injuries. Hospice staff can give helpful information to increase your loved one’s safety.
- Company for your loved one. Staff and volunteer can help keep your loved one with company. This can be very important for the wellbeing of dementia patients.
- Emotional and psychological support. It is common for dementia patients to experience heightened anxiety as well as depression. Hospice provides care not just for the body, but also for the mind. We can provide the support that your loved one needs to feel calmer throughout the day.
- Relief for primary caregivers. Caring for a patient with dementia involves a lot of work and can be physically and emotionally taxing. As the dementia progresses and the patient loses more and more function, caregivers’ risk for burnout increases.
Hospice helps to relieve some of the burden on caregivers, making daily care for the patient easier and more manageable. Caregivers who need a break can also avail themselves of respite care. During respite care, the patient is placed in an inpatient facility for up to 5 consecutive days. Caregivers can then take those days to rest and recharge or catch up on other obligations.
Simply knowing you are no longer alone in providing care to your loved one can also provide some relief. Further, hospice gives counseling to family and friends of patients as well as patients themselves. So, that is yet another way we can support you.
Find Out How We Can Help Your Loved One
To learn all of the ways we can help your loved one with dementia to experience less pain and more comfort and dignity during the end-of-life period, please give us a call at (470) 395-6567. We care for dementia patients and their families throughout the Atlanta area.
We live by the Golden Rule
Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
