Whether you’re choosing for yourself or a loved one, making a decision about in-home hospice care can be overwhelming. There’s a lot to consider for everyone involved and that can add to your stress. At Hospice of the Piedmont, we’re not just here to provide care—we strive to make every step of your journey as smooth and supportive as possible.
If you’re contemplating hospice care, we’ve put together this simple guide about what you can expect to help you feel more confident and prepared.
Hospice is not a place, it’s a holistic care philosophy.
A common misconception about hospice care is that it is a place people go to die. Rather than this however, hospice is a chance for a terminally ill person to regain a sense of agency and comfort, right in their own home.
Hospice care is based on the belief that the end of one’s life deserves as much joy and respect as possible. Receiving hospice care isn’t about giving into despair, it’s about taking the rest of your life into your own hands with hope and relief from pain.
Unlike other medical services, hospice care is interdisciplinary. This means your hospice care team can take care of your (and your family’s) every need—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
In-home hospice care can provide the same benefits as a dedicated hospice facility.
Since hospice care is a philosophy, it can be provided in various settings. While you might think that hospice care facilities provide better services, this isn’t the case.Pain and
Symptom Management
Hospice is about enhancing a patient’s quality of life. When a patient chooses in-home hospice care, they receive an individualized plan based on them and their family. This plan covers all their needs, including comprehensive pain and symptom management. Hospice care is an interdisciplinary team usually led by a registered nurse (RN), who all work to alleviate a patient’s pain and physical symptoms to allow a peaceful life free of suffering.
Emotional and Spiritual Counseling
The lack of curative potential can be very difficult for patients and families. While there might not be a chance to cure the person, there is always the chance to allow them a dignified transition to the end of their life.
Hospice care is person-centered care, meaning that it focuses on all aspects of the person’s well-being. Hospice care often focuses on maintaining the patient’s emotional and mental stability through a focus on their beliefs and wishes. Apart from psychological counseling, hospice teams also provide interpersonal and psychosocial support for both the patient and their loved ones, while paying attention to their personal, spiritual, or religious beliefs.
Assistance with Daily Living
For people with terminal illnesses, daily activities like walking, bathing, or getting dressed can become increasingly difficult as time passes. Hospice care teams come with highly trained aides and nurses who can help the patient perform these daily tasks in the comfort of their own home.
As a non-profit hospice, Hospice of the Piedmont is passionate about serving our community. We provide extensive services to offer as much as possible to the patients and families who come to us. To learn more, call us at +1 434-817-6900 (toll free: +1 800-975-5501), or contact us online.
