Is 24-Hour Home-Based Hospice a Viable Option?
Home-based hospice services are invaluable to families of terminally ill individuals, and a private nurse gives the person the opportunity to die at home. A hospital setting isn’t the same as being at home. Learning more about hospice services and what to expect shows families if these services are a more viable option for their loved ones.
24-Hour Health Care for the Person
Hospice nurses stay with the patient 24 hours per day, and they manage the person’s care requirements. Terminal clients cannot remain in the home alone because they are at the end of their lives. If an emergency arises, the nurses contact an ambulance and provide urgent care for the person as required. Do you have a terminally ill loved one? Read more about hospice near me now.
Comfort Care for Terminal Patients
Comfort care is critical for terminally ill individuals, and hospice nurses provide medications to keep them comfortable. Cancer patients, for example, experience pain and discomfort daily, and the nurses have prescription pain medications on hand to administer quickly. Doctors provide a care plan for clients entering hospice and prescribe medications as needed.
Hospice services provide patients with equipment such as IV machines, a hospital bed, and medical supplies. The hospice nurse coordinates with the doctor to ensure the person has everything they need to remain as comfortable as possible at this stage of life.
Support for the Family
Family members attempt to take on the responsibility of caring for a terminal loved one, and they find out quickly that it’s too much for them to bear. Hospice nurses have the training and preparation for managing the care of terminally ill individuals. The client has a nurse for the day and night to provide around-the-clock health care, and the nurses know what to do. Families must work and leave to fulfil their responsibilities. They cannot stay home day and night, and the emotional toll is too much.
Hospice services are available to terminal individuals who have only a few months to live. The person wants to spend time with their loved ones and enjoy each other’s company, and families don’t get this opportunity if the loved one provides care and is stressed. A hospice nurse manages the health care side of things, and the family can visit and avoid medical requirements.
The Patient Gets to Stay Home
A real advantage of hospice care is that the person stays in their own home and keeps their health private. Privacy is important to everyone, and some individuals don’t want to spend months in the hospital or care centre knowing they are dying. They want to be at home and surrounded by the people they love when the time comes.
Letting a Loved One Die With Dignity
Terminal illnesses lead to embarrassing situations for the person, and a hospice nurse helps them maintain their dignity. Urinary and bowel incontinence cause sudden accidents, and the person needs a nurse that helps them through these situations without further embarrassment.
Many people with terminal illnesses don’t want their final moments to include a medical staff of strangers who push and shove loved ones out of the way. Since they are terminal, the individuals have accepted that they are dying, and the decision to enter hospice eliminates unwanted situations.
Immediate Access to Everything They Need
With hospice services, the patient receives everything needed for their care. If they need a walker or cane to get around, their health insurance covers these costs. Hospice services include assistance for the client if there is a disagreement with a family member.
Terminally ill individuals who have chosen not to undergo further treatments have protection through the hospice nurse, and family members who create an unpleasant situation must leave. These nurses are available to maintain the patient’s dignity and respect even if a family member disagrees with their choices.
It’s Covered By Insurance Policies
Hospice services are not the same as having an at-home nurse. While the patient has a nurse who stays with them at their home, these services are considered end-of-life care and fall under a different category. The health insurance coverage pays the total cost of hospice care for the person. The family doesn’t face any additional cost for their loved one’s care.
Health insurance covers the cost of medical treatments, including prescription medications, and the amount of coverage depends on the terms of the policy. Families should review what percentage of insurance coverage applies to services beyond hospice care.
Counselling for the Family
End-of-life care includes counselling services for the family, and the nurse helps the family transition through this traumatic stage of life. Counselling helps the loved ones get through the stages of grief, and the nurse discusses what the family should expect when the time comes. They educate the family about what to do and what happens at each stage, and families accept these new challenges by understanding their responsibilities to their loved ones when the person passes.
There are decisions to make about the person’s final wishes, and if the person hasn’t discussed these wishes, the nurses help the family approach these subjects. The family needs to choose a funeral home and arrange for the removal of the loved one’s body. Hospice nurses help with these requirements if the family members need assistance.
End-of-life care helps families get through this traumatic time, and their terminally ill loved one gets the care they need each day. A hospice nurse stays with the person on a 24-hour basis and manages their care, and the family gets the chance to spend time with their loved one without the stress of daily care. The toll of providing care for a terminally ill loved one is too much for families, and they don’t have the appropriate training to provide medical assistance.
Hospice nurses provide care to ensure that the person stays comfortable and doesn’t experience unnecessary pain or discomfort. Prescription medications are available through hospice care. The nurses manage the patient’s care plan as directed by the doctor. Need to coordinate care for a terminally ill loved one? Contact a local hospice service for further details.
