When your parent is on hospice care at home not knowing what to expect during that time can put additional stress on family members. But the care providers who are there to care for your parent and your family are there to reduce stress. They can help guide you and your parent through the process and help you get through this difficult time.
One of the immediate things that a hospice care provider will do is talk to you and your family members about what to expect in the coming days or weeks. Knowing what signs to look out for and learning about the care measures that will be taken to keep your parent comfortable can help reduce your anxiety and reassure you that your parent will be taken care of.
Some of the other things you can expect from hospice care at home for your parent are:
A focus on comfort, not cure
Hospice care at home focuses on comfort instead of trying to cure an illness. The goal is to help your parent feel as comfortable and peaceful as possible. This includes managing pain, breathing problems, nausea, anxiety, and other symptoms.
The hospice team checks symptoms often and adjusts care as needed. They want your parent to feel safe and supported in their own home, surrounded by familiar people and belongings.
Regular visits from a care team
You can expect regular visits from a team of trained professionals. This may include nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. A hospice doctor oversees the care plan.
Nurses help manage medications and watch for changes in your parent’s condition. Aides help with personal care like bathing and dressing. Each team member has a role, and they work together to support both your parent and your family.
Help with personal care and daily needs
Hospice care at home includes help with daily tasks that may be hard for your parent. Hospice aides assist with bathing, grooming, toileting, and moving safely around the home.
This support can ease the physical strain on family caregivers. It also helps your parent maintain comfort and dignity during daily care routines.
Support for family caregivers
Hospice care supports family members as well as the patient. The team teaches you how to give medications, recognize symptoms, and respond to changes.
You will also have access to a 24-hour phone number to call with questions or concerns. Knowing help is always available can reduce stress and fear, especially during nights or weekends.
Medical equipment and supplies delivery to the home
Hospice provides medical equipment and supplies needed for comfort and safety. This may include a hospital bed, oxygen, a wheelchair, or supplies for wound care.
These items are delivered to the home and set up for you. The hospice team shows you how to use them and answers questions along the way.
Emotional and grief support before and after loss
Hospice care includes emotional support for both your parent and your family. Social workers and chaplains help with fear, sadness, and spiritual concerns. This is a highly emotional time, so sometimes nerves are raw, and family interactions can turn tense. Care providers can help reassure family members and facilitate effective communication between family members.
Help With Daily Activities
Going through this situation may feel like living in suspended animation. But in the meantime, the meals have to get cooked, dishes have to get done, laundry has to be done, shopping has to get done, and so on. A care provider can take charge of organizing the daily tasks and making sure that chores and tasks get done each day so that you and your parent are comfortable.