In many cases, a terminally ill
individual will request to spend his/her remaining time in his/her own home.
Indeed, it is common for hospice patients to shun the idea of entering into a
facility or a hospital. In instances such as these, the family of a dying
individual will be required to take on the care of the patient.
Hospices will
offer home hospice services to patients who choose to remain in
their own home and their families. However, some patients are not comfortable
with the idea of dying in their homes. They may feel that this will be too
difficult on their family. Otherwise, a patient may not want his/her family to
assume the caregiver role.
In these cases, terminally ill individuals may
choose to enter hospices. Hospices provide dying individuals with a secure and
comfortable location to spend their final months. These facilities can be found
in most major cities. In smaller or more rural communities, hospice patients may
be relocated to hospitals or nursing homes in order to receive extended
treatment from hospice caregivers. Hospices offer numerous advantages to hospice
patients and their families.
When terminally ill individuals choose to enter hospices, they have access to
essential and beneficial medical care at all times. If their symptoms worsen, a
doctor or a nurse will be available to administer medication that will diminish
any pain the patient is experiencing. While in a facility, hospice patients
have access to services aimed at
ensuring their comfort, including therapy, counseling, and spiritual guidance.
A physical therapist will often be on hand to assist hospice patients in
remaining mobile. A patient will also have the ability to socialize with
individuals experiencing similar situations. A terminally ill individual often
feels isolated from his/her family, as they have not experienced the fear and
anxiety that he/she is now facing, and this likely only to intensify in a paid
facility. However, the ability to communicate with other terminally ill
individuals about their feelings and experiences may help to provide a patient
with some measure of relief and comfort.
When an individual enters a hospice facility, doctors and nurses become
responsible for his/her care. Therefore, it is important for a family to ensure
that a facility employs a medical staff that can more than adequately address
the needs of their loved one. If it does not, the needs of the patients may go
unmet.
In many cases, there are multiple hospice facilities within the same
city. Before an individual enters into a hospice, he/she and his/her family
should visit more than one location. One facility may have a more effective
staff than another, or more suitable services to address the needs of certain
patients. If a family locates a facility that they are comfortable with, this
will allow them to continue spending time with their loved one without having to
assume the role of caregivers.