Family caregivers play a vital role in supporting loved ones who are experiencing challenging health circumstances, but hospice can provide much-needed professional support. Through hospice at home, caregivers and clients benefit from a range of services designed to meet their unique needs.
What Do Home Hospice Team Members Do?
Hospice teams include a variety of team members who work to address the full scope of a client’s needs. For example, a hospice client may interact with doctors, nurses, counselors, chaplains, and volunteers who all share the goal of caring for and supporting the client in specialized ways.
Hospice team members tailor the care they deliver to each client, so the services they provide will depend on your loved one’s specific needs. Hospice teams assist clients and their loved ones in a variety of ways, including:
- Visiting regularly to check in
- Providing skilled nursing care
- Assisting with practical needs at home
- Counseling clients
- Offering spiritual guidance and support
- Equipping clients and their homes with the appropriate medical equipment
- Helping clients access helpful community resources
- Assisting with advance care planning
How Does Hospice at Home Support Family Caregivers?
If your loved one qualifies for hospice at home but has not yet engaged these services, you may find yourself struggling to provide all the care they need. A 2020 study found that family caregivers spent an average of 41 hours per week caring for their loved ones during the end-of-life stage — the equivalent of a full-time job.
Calling hospice can be beneficial not only for your loved one but also for you as a caregiver. Consider these ways hospice can help you in your caregiving role.
Alleviating Caregiving Responsibilities
One of the most significant ways hospice supports family caregivers is by lessening caregiving responsibilities. Rather than trying to care for your loved one on your own, you can depend on help from compassionate and capable professionals who share your commitment to your loved one’s well-being at every stage. With routine professional assistance, you and your loved one can focus more on enjoying each other’s company and less on tending to practical needs.
Coordinating Care
Your hospice care team lead can also play a key role in coordinating your loved one’s care, removing this responsibility from your shoulders. You can enjoy peace of mind, knowing a medical professional is overseeing all aspects of your loved one’s care. For example, support might include comparing prescriptions from different providers to detect possible conflicting medications or unmet needs and remedying these issues. Coordinating care across providers ensures your loved one benefits from a seamless and comprehensive care plan.
Connecting to Caregiver Resources
Caring for a loved one can come with unique practical and emotional challenges. Fortunately, hospice teams can connect caregivers to resources designed especially for them. This might include caregiver support groups that meet virtually or in person, allowing you to seek advice and share with others about the highs and lows of caregiving.
Providing Continuous On-Call Support
Have you ever found yourself anxiously consulting Google or sitting on hold with medical providers as you try to figure out how to address an issue with your loved one’s care? With hospice at home, you’ll always be able to access support when you need it. Call any day, any time, and a hospice team member will be happy to answer your questions over the phone or visit to personally assess the situation.
Offering Bereavement Support
When the time comes to say goodbye to your loved one, hospice is there to offer counseling and support as you grieve and honor their legacy. WesleyLife hospice families receive a full year of grief support at no cost.
How Can Caregivers Continue to Support Their Loved Ones in Hospice?
Although hospice can support family caregivers in valuable ways, caregivers still play an irreplaceable role. Family caregivers can continue to support their loved ones by:
- Simply being there for a loved one and spending time with them
- Providing routine care under the guidance of hospice professionals, such as administering medications and helping with daily activities
- Contacting hospice nurses when help is needed to ensure their loved one’s comfort
When you and your loved one first arrange for hospice at home, your care coordinator will discuss your loved one’s needs, how the team plans to assist, and how you can best care for your loved one. If other family members help with your loved one’s care, you can also take this opportunity to discuss how you plan to share responsibilities and ensure all caregivers understand how to effectively use hospice resources.
Hospice Care: Supporting Your Loved One, Supporting You.
The care you provide your family member cannot be replaced, but that doesn’t mean you need to manage that care on your own. You and your WesleyLife Hospice team can work together to ensure that your loved one’s needs are met and they can enjoy life to the fullest during this unique stage.
WesleyLife is here to support caregivers at every stage of their journey. To learn more about this vital role, read The Complete Guide for Caregivers.
