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Hospice care is end of life care for someone suffering from a terminal disease, or a senior citizen who is failing to thrive. This type of care, which can be put in place at home, a hospice center, a hospital or a skilled nursing facility, is generally put in place when a patient is expected to live six months or less. When a loved one is nearing the end of their life, families are often overwhelmed with feelings of guilt when considering hospice services. This list is meant to help people deal with the grief of having a loved one in hospice, by concentrating on the positive effects hospice care offers patients and their families.
Even for long-term family caregivers, end-of-life care for a loved one can be intense. It is often a psychically and emotionally draining task that requires your constant attention. What caregivers must remember is the medical professionals involved in hospice care have received years of training and experience dealing with these situations. They are able to provide the medical, psychological and spiritual support to terminal patients and their families.
Another common feeling of guilt caregivers have is that their patient will be unable to die in their home. This is not true. Hospice professionals work with families to make sure whichever hospice setting is chosen, the patient will be in a peaceful setting surrounded by family and loved ones. In these settings, patients, when possible, and families are involved with what happens around the patient and what does not. The hospice professionals take every action, whether medical, psychological or spiritual, to make sure hospice patients are comfortable, and that their final passing is done peacefully.
Although allowing someone else to take over your loved one’s end-of-life care is difficult, it is extremely beneficial when someone is suffering a great deal of pain. Hospice care professionals are trained in managing pain situations, whether acute or chronic, and can quickly ease the pain of your loved one, without having to transfer them to an emergency room or hospital.
Sometimes full-time caretakers feel guilty asking for help, but hospice care is an organization dedicated to supporting patients and their family. The organization’s support begins when a patient or family is contemplating hospice, while the patient is in hospice and continues for as long as necessary after the death of a loved one. Families and patients will often meet with social workers, nurses, doctors and other professionals that can offer medical, psychological and spiritual support.
Overwhelming feelings of guilt can hinder the decision-making process. However, making the decision early helps families learn to accept the impending death, process some unresolved issues with the help of hospice support and take the time to say good-bye to their loved one.
Hospice Care is a wonderful, supportive service available to people nearing the end of their lives. These professionals help people die with dignity in a comfortable peaceful setting. Allowing someone else to manage a dying loved one’s medical care gives caregivers much-needed time to resolve their own issues. Use these tips to help deal with a loved one entering hospice. These tips are meant to ease some of the guilt caregivers feel about not being able to care for a loved one and instead help them realize the positive aspects hospice has on patient’s and their family’s lives. If you are looking for more information on hospice care, speak to a representative today.
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