How Does Hospice Benefit Patient Families?

Although the main goal of hospice is to ensure the comfort and well being of people approaching the end of life, it provides many benefits to families as well. Since the majority of hospice care happens in the home, family members ultimately become primary caregivers, managing the day to day needs of their loved one. Hospice becomes the support system designed to assist families through end of life care of the patient. Knowing that they are supported in keeping a loved one in the comfortable, safe, and loving environment of home can increase peace of mind for families. The benefits of a revolving team of specially trained staff, respite care, volunteers, and grief support services may also help families cope with their loved one’s end-of-life care and subsequently, their death.

Education is a cornerstone of the support caregivers will receive from the hospice team. Knowing what to expect and how to address issues that may crop up can empower families to feel more confident in their caregiving role. The case manager or primary nurse collaborates with families to develop a unique and tailored care plan best suited to the needs of the patient, and everyone in the home. This may include things like the best time of day to schedule weekly nursing visits and setting treatment goals.

Families may also receive hospice education on the following:

• Pain prevention and treatment
• Medication management
• Fall prevention
• Patient care; repositioning
• Wound care (if appropriate)

All medications and medical equipment are delivered to the home, relieving caregivers of the burden of leaving the home to get them. Families have access to hospice 24 hours a day for any questions or concerns. An on-call nurse will triage the patient’s acute symptoms via phone and instruct the caregiver on how to manage those accordingly. Every family is provided with a comfort kit (various medications used to treat pain, constipation, agitation, and shortness of breath) upon patient admission. This is so caregivers have whatever the patient may potentially need in a crisis on hand to bring immediate relief. A nurse will visit the following day to ensure patient comfort. However, the on-call nurse will come sooner if the family is unable to quell patient symptoms on their own. If a crisis cannot be averted, inpatient care may be warranted.

Other staff support can further ease family caregiver burdens. A certified home health aide will come to the home up to several times a week to assist the patient with things like bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, and changing bed sheets. Social workers can provide families with additional resources including private home health aide companies for hire or referrals to ancillary providers such as podiatrists and hair stylists who will come to the home to provide services. They can also be instrumental in helping families complete financial, legal, or funeral paperwork that might otherwise feel too overwhelming.

Aside from easing stress caused by the physical demands of patient care, hospice staff can address mental and emotional needs for families, as well. Caring for a loved one while maintaining self-care may seem overwhelming at times. The social worker can request a volunteer to come sit with the patient, so caregivers can leave the home for a few hours for a much-needed break. Families can also request respite care. In these situations, patients may be transported to an inpatient or approved long-term care facility for up to 5 days, so families can attend special events or take a short vacation.

Chaplains, or spiritual counselors, are also part of the hospice team. They can provide guidance to both patients and families that is specific to religious beliefs or more non-denominational oriented if desired. Upon request, chaplains can also help to arrange for a priest to come to the home to perform the sacrament of the sick ceremony for the patient and pray with the family.

Bereavement support for families

After the patient dies, hospice benefits provide long-term grief and bereavement support for families for up to 13 months. This may include continued visits with the social worker or chaplain if the family is struggling to cope with the loss. Group and individual grief counseling may be offered virtually or in person. Some hospice providers also offer counseling specific for children who have lost a parent or other close family member. Referrals can be made to families that may need additional help in coping with the death of their loved one. 

Sources

“Bereavement Care”. CaringInfo. https://www.caringinfo.org/types-of-care/bereavement-care/