What are the benefits of Family support at hospice?

There are many benefits of family support at hospice. Let us see them:

• It offers kindness and support when things are tough, making both the patient and their family feel better.
• Hospice programs help family members understand what’s happening. This is so that they feel less scared and anxious about their loved one’s condition.
• If someone in the family is taking care of sick hospice patients, hospice makes sure they know how to do it well and gives them a break when needed.
• Hospice teams and healthcare providers work to make sure the sick person feels as little pain and discomfort as possible. This makes everyone’s life better.
• Regular meetings with the hospice medical team help everyone talk openly. This builds trust and ensures everyone knows what’s going on.
• Even after the sick person passes away, hospice continues to help the family cope with sadness and move forward in life.

Types of Family support available during hospice care

There are different types of family support available during hospice care.

Firstly, there is someone to talk to. There are people who are trained to listen and offer emotional help. They understand that dealing with serious illness is really hard for everyone.

Families also get useful information about the sick person’s chronic illness, plan of care and what to expect as things progress. This knowledge from health care professionals can make everyone feel less worried. They also get respite care. If someone in the family is looking after the sick person with terminal illness, they get training and a chance to take a break when needed.

The hospice interdisciplinary team works to make sure the sick person is as comfortable as possible and has as little pain as possible. This makes everyone feel better too.

There is also grief support. Even after the sick person passes away, hospice continues to support the family as they cope with sadness and try to move forward.

At Specialized Home Care, we understand how difficult it is, having to see your loved one suffer in front of your eyes. However, our hospice professionals aim to lessen that suffering as much as possible. We try to offer an extreme level of comfort with our comfort measures.

What is the role of the Family in hospice care?

The family plays a key role in hospice care. According to a study by Lisa B Patterson, the family members are primary caregivers, who shoulder a lot of the responsibility. The entire family is like the backbone of support for the patient.

Families give the patient comfort, love, and emotional support, which is super important during a tough time. They often become the primary caregiver, working closely with the hospice team to make sure the patient is well taken care of. This means helping with daily tasks, managing medicines, and keeping an eye on how the patient is doing. They improve the quality of life of patients in life care.

Families help keep everyone on the same page by talking with both the patient and the hospice care team. This way, everyone knows what’s happening and can make decisions together.

They also create a warm and cozy environment for the patient. It can be through visits from friends and family, soothing music, or simply being there to chat. Sometimes, they talk about what the patient wants when it comes to the end of life. This ensures that the patient’s wishes are respected.

Even after the patient passes away, the hospice providers are there to support the family as they cope with emotional pain and start to heal.

Also, keeping track of the patient’s symptoms, medications, and daily routines can help. It helps the hospice team and healthcare professionals provide better care.

They can also assist in making practical arrangements. Families help with funeral plans or financial matters, which can relieve some of the stress during this period. Family members also help in advocacy. They act as advocates for the patient’s needs. They ensure that the patient’s wishes and preferences are respected by the health care team, the health care provider and hospice services.

Families can make the patient’s space feel more like home, with familiar belongings and cherished mementos. They keep the patient encouraged by sharing memories.

How can Family member get involvement in End-of-Life Decisions

A family member can get involved in end-of-life decisions in multiple ways. To be part of end-of-life decisions as a family member, you can follow these steps:

Start by having sincere talks with the healthcare team, like doctors and Hospice nurses. Share your worries, ask questions, and let them know what the patient wants for their care.

Ask the healthcare team to explain what’s happening, what might happen next, and what choices are available. This helps you make smart decisions.

If the patient hasn’t already, encourage them to write down their wishes for medical care in an advance directive or living will. This makes sure their choices are followed after palliative care.

If the patient can’t make decisions, they can choose a trusted family member to speak for them as a medical proxy or give them medical power of attorney for healthcare choices. This person represents the patient’s interests.

Learn about the patient’s values, beliefs, and what they want from their care. This guides decisions and makes sure they get what they want.

When possible, work together with other family members to make decisions that everyone can agree on. This helps prevent arguments and ensures that everyone is on the same page.

The most important thing is to make decisions that align with what the patient wants. It is even if it’s not what you would choose. Respecting the patient’s wishes is key.

If you are not sure, it’s perfectly fine to ask another doctor for a second opinion. This is to make sure you fully grasp the patient’s condition and choices. It’s all about making sure everyone is on the same page and doing what’s best for the patient.

These discussions can be tough emotionally. Don’t hesitate to reach out for emotional support from counselors, support groups, or religious leaders. You can also check out community resources or some additional resources.

Make sure to write down all decisions and talks with the healthcare team. This helps everyone stay on the same page about the care plan.

At Specialized Home Care, we respect any and every decision that a family takes. We do not make a life-limiting illness make a family feel disadvantaged.