It gets overwhelming when someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness. They often need emotional support and help with daily tasks. Here, comes the role of hospice care services.
Hospice care is specialized care that is highly focused on providing quality care to an individual with a life-limiting illness. The main objective of hospice care is to provide physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support to loved ones and their families.
The trained professionals help in managing the conditions and symptoms of terminal illness so that your loved ones can spend their end of life in peace and comfort. This allows you and your loved ones to receive extra support from hospice care providers and get quality care.
However, the stages of hospice care differ depending on the severity of the illness. Let us look into that,
Four levels of hospice care
Routine Home care: Here, a hospice care provider visits your loved ones on a regular basis to check on their health conditions.
General inpatient (GIP) care: As the severity of the individual’s health condition increases, a care facility is provided at the institution so as to manage the symptoms.
Homecare in continuity: It is an intensive short-term support to manage the pain symptoms. The person receives homecare in continuity only if they qualify to be GIP and wish to stay at home.
Respite care: In respite care, individuals receive temporary care in an institution or a facility so that the caregivers can take a break for a while.
Who needs hospice care services?
People who are diagnosed with:
- Alzheimer’s care and memory issues
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Parkinson disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and other incurable illnesses
Benefits of hospice care providers:
Caregivers help the families understand treatment plans
It gets quite overwhelming for families, at times, to understand care plans. So, caregivers providing treatment to individuals with terminal illnesses help families understand the medical terms and conditions. Also, they educate their families about treatment plans and medical conditions.
Caregivers help in the management of pain and symptoms
Caregivers providing end-of-life care to an individual understand the medical needs and attention. Caregivers provide them with information about symptoms and pain management. Moreover, they may also receive complementary therapies like massage therapy, music therapy, and more.
Caregivers play an important role in minimizing hospital visits and readmissions
Your loved one may not feel comfortable receiving treatment at medical institutions. Therefore, getting medications and long-term care at home brings them solace and comfort in the presence of their loved ones. Caregivers providing hospice care help with pain management and reduce hospital visits and readmissions.
Caregivers provide emotional support to individuals and their families
Respite hospice care providers offer emotional support to people in critical conditions. Caregivers listen to their stories and offer companionship to them and their families. Moreover, they help the individual understand the medical conditions and offer unconditional support till the end.
Caregivers play an important role in providing good quality of life
A comprehensive treatment, including hospice and respite care, minimizes discomfort, symptoms, and pain. Therefore, the care treatment improves the quality of life as the individual gets emotional and physical assistance from trained experts and their loved ones.
It is important to understand that receiving hospice care doesn’t change reality but advocates for the quality care that a loved one should deserve in the final stage.
If you know someone who needs hospice care services in Maryland, Comfikare Homecare is just one step away. With our trained professionals, they can get comprehensive in-home care in Maryland. Our caregivers provide personalized care plans to your loved ones at an affordable rate, right at your home. For more information, contact us.