As patients or loved ones age or face life-limiting illnesses, it can be very challenging to make decisions about care. Patients and families often feel overwhelmed weighing the pros and cons of hospice in different settings. Would it be better to have care provided in a nursing home? What about a hospice facility? In this article, we’d like to talk about the option of receiving hospice care in the comfort of a patient’s own home. Let’s discuss what hospice at home involves, how it differs from other hospice settings, and when it might be the right choice for yourself or your loved one.
What Is Hospice at Home?
Whatever the setting, hospice care prioritizes a patient’s quality of life, pain management, and emotional support rather than curative therapy. Home hospice care provides comprehensive support to individuals with life-limiting illnesses, allowing them to spend their remaining time in the comfort of their own homes. A patient’s hospice team provides holistic support for their medical, emotional, and spiritual needs — while also supporting their families.
Depending on a patient’s needs, care teams include healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, and therapists), social workers, home health aides, spiritual care coordinators, and volunteers. Together, these team members collaborate to provide individualized care. They regularly visit the patient’s home to ensure that their medical and emotional needs are met, and they adjust the care plans as needs change. The aim is to ease pain and discomfort and focus on the patient’s quality of life, so that they can spend their final days with dignity and peace.
How Home Hospice Differs From Other Settings
Unlike hospice care in a hospital or a similar facility, hospice at home allows patients to stay in their familiar surroundings. In the comfort of their home, they receive tailored care that meets their individual needs. Many families and patients find comfort in this sense of normalcy and continuity. Hospice providers visit the patient’s home as needed to provide medical support, assist with daily activities, offer companionship, and provide respite for family members with caregiving responsibilities.
In a hospital or facility setting, a patient might have to adapt to new environments, schedules, and routines. For some patients and their families, this can add a layer of stress to an already emotional and stressful situation. Home hospice care avoids the stress of changing environments. At home, patients can be surrounded by their belongings and supported by their family and friends. Staying in a familiar setting can help some patients to feel less anxious and more at ease.
What Are the Pros of Home Hospice Care?
There are many benefits to receiving hospice at home. Here are some of the pros for patients and their families that we’ve seen as hospice providers.
1. Comfort and Familiarity
At home, a patient might feel more at ease and less isolated than at a care facility. Being at home allows patients to be surrounded by their personal items, cherished memories, and loved ones. This familiarity can provide a comforting backdrop for hospice care and benefit a patient’s emotional well-being.
2. Personalized Care
Regardless of the setting, home hospice teams work closely with families to provide a personalized care plan. This highly individualized care plan respects a patient’s wishes, eases physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering, and can be adjusted as needs change. When a patient receives hospice care at home, their experience can be even more personalized. Patients can conveniently use their preferred bedding, control room lighting, and adjust the temperature. Do they enjoy time in their garden? Do they talk with their neighbor daily? Hospice at home allows patients and families to continue doing the things they love in their own space.
3. Family Involvement
When hospice takes place at home, families can take a very active role in their loved one’s care. Family members can spend meaningful time with their loved one in a familiar setting. Loved ones are able to continue making memories in their family’s home during the hospice process. Hospitals and care facilities may have limited visiting hours or limits on visitors, but at home, patients and families can determine their own schedules. Hospice providers offer guidance and support, helping family members navigate their roles and responsibilities. Our team helps families understand how to provide care, such as medication administration and symptom management, so that family members feel confident and supported in their caregiving roles.
4. Flexibility
Home hospice care provides more control over daily routines, schedules, preferences, and activities. Patients can decide when they want to rest, eat, or engage in activities. This flexibility can maintain a sense of autonomy and help patients feel more comfortable and satisfied during their hospice journey.
Limitations of Hospice at Home
There are many benefits to home hospice, but it might not be the best option for everyone.
- Medical Needs: Some patients need more intensive medical support than can be provided at home.
- Monitoring or Equipment: They might have complex medical needs that require continuous monitoring or specialized equipment and would be better served in a medical setting.
- Space/Accessibility Issues: Some patients’ homes might be limited in square footage, without space to store or maneuver wheelchairs, hospital beds, or other medical equipment. A home might have obstacles (like lots of stairs) that make it difficult for patients or hospice providers to access their space.
Sometimes a family isn’t able to take care of a patient at home. Caring for a loved one with a life-limiting illness is often emotionally and physically demanding, and it might not be possible for family members to provide the needed care. It’s important to remember that hospice teams offer respite care and support services and can help primary caregivers by providing much-needed breaks to rest and recharge. But for patients and families with situations like those listed above, home hospice care might not be the best option.
Working Together: Hospice Providers and Families
Regardless of whether a patient receives hospice at home or another setting, it’s vital for hospice providers to partner with families in providing the best care. At Envision Hospice, we see hospice care as a partnership built on open communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the patient’s well-being.
We can provide care in whatever setting is best for a patient’s circumstances, whether that’s at home, in a nursing home, or at an assisted living facility.
Healthcare professionals like nurses and social workers follow the patient’s care plan, visit frequently, and promptly address any new needs. Spiritual care coordinators are also available to provide emotional and spiritual support, respecting the patient’s spiritual beliefs.
Families receive education on caregiving tasks and have access to counseling and bereavement services. We’re here to make sure families feel supported throughout their loved one’s hospice journey. Counseling services help family members process their emotions and cope with the challenges of caregiving, while bereavement support provides guidance and comfort after the loss of a loved one.
Considering Hospice at Home for Your Situation?
If you’re trying to decide on hospice care for a loved one or yourself, it’s important to have open and honest conversations with healthcare providers and family members.
What are the patient’s wishes?
What are their medical needs?
What’s the level of support available within the patient’s family?
Talk with doctors and hospice providers to understand your options. Understanding the benefits and the limitations of home hospice can guide you in making a decision that aligns with your values and needs.
Choosing home hospice care is a deeply personal decision, and it’s about prioritizing comfort and quality of life. At Envision Hospice, we’re committed to providing compassionate, personalized care that honors every individual’s journey. Our team is here to support you every step of the way, offering guidance, resources, and a compassionate ear whenever you need it. Reach out to us to learn more and see how we can support you and your loved ones during this time.