According to surveys, seven out of ten people would die in their beds if given the option. Sadly, not everyone is given a chance to make decisions about their end-of-life care or has those decisions respected.

It's not too late for you or a loved one to put comfort before artificial means of prolonging life, such as medication or hospitalisation. A discussion about hospice care at home as an option to enhance your loved one's quality of life can begin immediately.

To begin, what is Hospice?

Hospice care is a specialised form of medical assistance for those nearing the end of their lives due to a terminal illness or other life-limiting condition. Hospice care may also be recommended by a physician if the patient:

• Their bodies are unresponsive to the curative measures taken.

• Regardless of treatment, their outlook continues to worsen.

• They prefer symptom relief to medical intervention. Now they can spend their time as they like throughout their final days.

Supportive hospice care alleviates pain and other symptoms. This care approach also offers many holistic treatments to assist people in living their best lives. This includes fulfilling a patient's last wishes so they can die peacefully.

Hospice doesn't treat the patient's illness either. Hospice care aims to make your dying days or those of a loved one as comfortable as possible.

What is home hospice care?

Hospice, unlike common perception, is neither a physical location nor a specific establishment. It refers, instead, to a strategy for providing care that puts the individual's well-being first. So long as the patient's condition allows it, hospice care at home can be provided
wherever the patient may be.

Hospice organisations provide in-home hospice care. It can happen in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or private home. Hospice patients receive 24-hour care. This depends on the programme your family chooses.

How does home hospice work?

Once you or a loved one enrolls in a hospice programme, hospice care can begin. Then, a hospice care provider will come to the patient's home to determine the appropriate amount of hospice care.

The results of the health evaluation will determine the frequency of hospice visits. Depending on patient's needs, they can arrange visits from nurses, chaplains, and therapists.

A hospice care team member may assign a caretaker to live with you and be available at all hours to support you. You or a loved one can call your hospice services when a crisis arises. A nurse, doctor, or other healthcare expert
is always available on call in a medical emergency.

What Are Home Hospice Services Offered?

The hospice care you or a loved one receives may change based on your chosen plan. Most hospices offer the following standard services to their patients:

• If no family caretaker is available, you will have access to 24-hour monitoring from a hospice team member.

• Helpers and caretakers who can assist with personal care tasks like washing, dressing, and grooming, as well as housekeeping

• Giving medicines to relieve pain and other symptoms

• Support groups for loved ones of hospice patients

Conclusion

Hospice care aims to improve the health, comfort, and quality of life of terminally ill patients and their families. Eventually, it may not be possible to cure a severe sickness, or the patient may decide against treatment. Hospice care at
home is specifically geared towards such a scenario. Red Rock Hospice provides
hospice care at home, you can visit there.