Deciding to have end-of-life care is never easy. It is an emotional event in the life of seniors and their loved ones. The first thing that needs to be done is to learn what your options are. It’s good to know that there are many available options. Here we are going to talk about hospice and palliative care.
When people think about hospice care, they associate it with their loved one being away from home and feeling of distant. But that’s not the case, or at least it doesn’t need to be. This might shock you, but there are hospice care services available at home. Read about it below.
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What Is Hospice Care at Home?
So there are two types of hospice care available. One in a facility and the other option is at home. In essence, it’s not important where the patient is living; hospice care can be provided at any location. What this means for your loved one is that if they need this type of care, they can receive it at their doorstep.
Hospice care is provided by a team, which consists of a hospice nurse, home health care workers, social workers, and chaplains. All of these people can come to the home of a senior, which eliminates the need for them to move to a hospice care facility. The best part of hospice care at home is that it offers the same services and quality, just as they would at the facility.
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What Is Palliative Care at Home?
Another type of care which also can be provided at your home is palliative care. This care is intended for those people who have severe long-term illnesses. This care consists of specialized treatments which are designed to meet the needs of respective patients. In general, palliative care gives a better quality of life to its patients and their loved ones.
Similar to hospice care, palliative care is also conducted by a team of trained individuals that take care of patients through cooperation. It is usually different from other standard curative treatments.
This care is provided to all patients that decide that they need it, regardless of their condition. But in most cases, patients that are nearing the end of their lives choose palliative care. So it is quite handy that you can receive this care at home.
Hospice vs Palliative Care
The difference between hospice and palliative care lies in the fact that the latter one can be used by patients from the moment they are diagnosed with an illness. Hospice care is available only when a patient has six or fewer months to live.
What they have in common is that they give comfort to patients and their families. If you or your loved one is using palliative care, you don’t need to switch to hospice when time comes to an end. The patient can continue using it until the end of their days.
Same as hospice care, palliative care is available in a hospital, nursing facility, and at your home. It is all up to you and your loved one to decide which options are best for you. Also, the palliative care team has a word in some decisions, which may suit the patient’s needs better.
In some cases, it is not only medically better for patients to be in a hospital or nursing facility, but it also can be emotionally stressful for everyone involved if they insist on being at home.
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