Hospice care aims to provide emotional, physical, and spiritual comfort to families in the advanced stages of the terminal illness of their loved ones.
Sadly, there are certain misconceptions about hospice care services.
For instance, many families believe that hospice care means giving up all medical care for their loved ones. Besides, many families confess that they wish they had known about hospice care earlier instead of getting it for their loved one in the last stage.
Therefore, this blog will point out some lesser-known facts about hospice care. This will help you to get a practical understanding of what hospice is all about.
Table of contents:
- What is hospice care?
- When is hospice care needed?
- Five Facts about hospice care
- How do I find the right hospice care in Silver Spring?
What is hospice care?
Hospice care, also known as palliative care, is a specialized form of care that focuses on treating and managing the symptoms of life-limiting illnesses.
As a result, your loved one receives compassionate care in the last stage of the life-limiting illness. This helps your loved ones live with comfort and peace in their remaining days.
With hospice respite care, the family caregivers also get temporary relief from caregiving services with respite care services.
When is Hospice Care needed?
Your loved one needs palliative care in the advanced stages of a life-limiting illness.
Check out these Hospice Care signs:
- Life-limiting illnesses like cancer, kidney disease, and so on
- Excessive sleep indicating slowing down of body functions
- Inability to communicate about needs
- Unexplained weight loss during terminal illness/life-limiting illness
- Frequent hospital visits
- The last stage of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- Advanced stages of HIV/AIDS
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease, and so on.
Facts About Hospice Care
With hospice care benefits, your loved ones can receive the best care at the final stage of a terminal illness. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions and myths about hospice and palliative care.
In the following, we have presented five lesser-known facts about hospice that you may not be aware of.
Here it is,
One Can Receive Care for a Longer Duration
Hospice care is specially designed for a loved one with six months or less to live. However, a person at an advanced stage of a life-limiting illness can receive hospice care.
And the care can be extended too, but only if your loved one meets the criteria for hospice care services. Besides, you and your loved one can receive multiple benefits, including education, emotional support, and spiritual support.
You Can Avail Respite for Family Caregivers
If you are a family caregiver, providing 24-hour care services to loved ones is quite a big responsibility. This feels overwhelming, and you may need a temporary break.
Hospice services also offer respite care for family caregivers. This helps you attend any important events, or take a short trip. You get a temporary break for five days with various hospice levels like inpatient hospice.
Receive Complementary Therapies For Spiritual Well Being
Have you heard of receiving complementary services like massage or art therapy?
Well, with hospice care services, you can get those complementary services.
It includes:
- Massage therapy
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Aromatherapy
- Pet Therapy
- Non-pharmacological interventions and so on
Alongside, hospice palliative care includes:
- Spiritual counseling
- End-of-life wishes
- Coping with emotional challenges
- Addressing emotional distress and so on
The main objective is to offer relief, comfort, and relaxation to you and your loved ones.
You Can Opt for Medicare Coverage
Many private insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, also cover hospice care. The goal is to provide quality care regardless of one’s ability to pay for it.
The coverage includes medication and hospital equipment needed during the diagnosis of a terminal illness.
Also, while receiving hospice, if the health conditions of your loved one stabilize, you can withdraw hospice services.
And again resume if the health condition degrades.
Hospice care services in Silver Spring
Your loved one can receive hospice services anywhere. Many care recipients opt to receive hospice at home.
If you have been looking for hospice services for your loved one in Silver Spring, Comfikare Homecare is a trusted agency to help you find the right caregiver for hospice at home. Our trained and licensed caregivers have years of experience in hospice services and know what is best for your loved one.
We have customized hospice treatment plans because we understand the changing needs during terminal illness. Our trained caregivers offer emotional support and assistance to your loved ones and you during and afterward.
Contact us for more information on our hospice care services in Silver Spring.