What Is Hospice Care at Home?

Hospice care is a type of care given to people who are terminally ill. The focus isn’t to treat or cure the condition but rather to address the patient’s physical and emotional comfort. It can occur in hospice care centers that specialize in assisting patients at this stage of life. However, people can also receive hospice care in their homes.

This article covers what it means to get hospice care at home, explains the benefits, describes the home hospice team and more.

Four Types of Hospice Care

There are four levels of hospice care:

• Routine home care involves care from family members or friends, along with regular visits from home hospice care providers.
• General inpatient care is when a patient receives care at a facility because their pain or other symptoms can’t be managed at home.
• Continuous home care is more intensive at-home care for addressing a symptom crisis.
• Respite care is temporary care in a facility to give family caregivers a rest.

Patients may need some or all of these types of care on their journey.

What Are the Benefits of Home Hospice Care

People who opt for hospice care at home typically make that decision because they want to go through their end-of-life transition in a familiar environment. This approach also means that family members living with the patient don’t have to travel to and from a hospice center.

In addition, many people find that family members are more involved in hospice care at home, and this involvement is ultimately rewarding. The ability to get emotional and psychological support and counseling in private is also beneficial.

Who Makes Up a Home Hospice Team?

The composition of a home hospice team varies based on the patient’s condition and their wishes. However, it’s typically made up of several care professionals.

The patient’s primary care physician helps them decide when hospice care should begin based on their symptoms and prognosis. When the decision is made, a hospice medical director develops and oversees the patient’s home hospice care plan.

Registered nurses provide care to the patient, visiting as often as needed to ensure their symptoms are managed properly and they are comfortable. Social workers help patients and families understand home hospice care services and navigate the systems for obtaining home care.

Dieticians and therapists assist with nutritional problems, like nausea, lack of appetite and weight loss, and help patients maintain as much of their functional abilities as possible for as long as possible. Counselors work with patients and families to address the many mental and emotional issues that can arise.

Services like helping with feeding, personal hygiene and changing bed linens are often provided by home health aides, while trained volunteers can assist with tasks like pet care, shopping and running errands.

Hospice clergy members attend to the spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones, answering questions about dying and the afterlife from the perspective of the patient’s faith tradition.

How Long Can Hospice Care Last?

Every person’s end-of-life experience is unique, so the duration of hospice care varies. It may be a period of weeks but can stretch into several months.

Some people start hospice care, but then their condition improves to the point where they don’t need it.

Talk With Your Baptist Health Doctor About Home Hospice Care

If you will be needing hospice care, your doctor can explain the process and home care services available through Baptist Health. If you don’t have a Baptist Health provider, you can find one in our online provider directory.