Hospice care is a form of specialized care for patients who are terminally ill. The care is designed to ease the patients’ pain and allow them to continue with their lives in as much comfort as possible. When most people visualize hospice care, they only think of in-patient care in a healthcare institution setting.
There are, however, different types of hospice care. Continuous and respite home-based care are the two common forms of outpatient hospice care. There is no significant disparity between inpatient and home-based hospice care services for Indiana residents.
Your choice of home-based care primarily depends on your unique needs, but it is meant explicitly for homebound patients. Most people opt for home-based hospice care so that they spend maximum time with their loved ones and provide a convenient option for their visitors.
The following are some of the services included in a home-based hospice care package.
Psychosocial Support
Living with a loved one facing a life-limiting condition is not an easy emotional journey. As such, hospice care will include psychological support for the loved ones living with the patient. These include counseling services, more so for those in close proximity with the patient.
Grief counseling for a patient’s loved ones starts before the passing of the patient. This helps them better handle the death and boosts their interaction with the patient before his or her death.
Caregiver Training
A 24/7 professional care is not always possible for hospice patients. Hospice centers empower a patient’s caregivers to handle different non-professional elements of care. These include bathing, feeding and providing companionship for the patient.
Though these seem like ordinary activities, there are other aspects included to suit them for hospice care. Other than caregiver training, hospice centers also provide community education to empower communities on the care of patients.
Palliative Care
This service includes the nursing and medical care of hospice patients. Palliative care encompasses the administration of different drugs and services to enhance the comfort of a hospice patient. These include pain medication, chemotherapeutic drugs and services, which boost the patient’s well being like wound care and nutrition therapy.
Different people with training in the medical sector, which includes medical specialists and nurses, handle palliative care.
Rehabilitative Therapy
Life-limiting illnesses take a massive toll on different parts of a patient’s body. Some diseases can affect the patient’s mobility, speech, hearing, and coordination. Hospice care, hence, includes rehabilitative therapy like speech therapy, physiotherapy and other forms of rehabilitation to improve the patient’s quality of life.
Home-based hospice care is not only offered in conventional homes. It can also be provided in care facilities like nursing homes, assisted living centers and retirement living communities. Most people give up once they hear that they or their loved ones need hospice care since this is designed for those with a short period to live.
The above forms of care are, however, essential for all people with life-limiting conditions. They can prolong the patient’s life and enhance the quality of time you spend with a loved one in the final days of his or her condition.
