If you ask a terminally ill loved one where they’d like to be during the final chapter of life, and home is almost certain to be the answer. Chicago hospice care providers make that happen, and whether home is a private residence, a nursing facility or an assisted living community, patients can expect to receive the support they need to live as fully as possible, for as long as possible.
Being able to remain in familiar surroundings and receiving personalized care from a team of skilled professionals allows for comfort and dignity throughout the end-of-life journey. That’s what anyone would want for someone they hold dear, and in most cases, it doesn’t cost anything at all – Medicare, the Illinois Medicaid program, military benefits and most private insurers cover hospice care at home.
On the other hand, having a loved one in hospice does present challenges for families. From the stress of caregiving to the feelings of despair that arise, many people struggle to keep it together. Fortunately, family support is an integral part of hospice care. Here, we take a look at what this involves.
The Importance of Family Support in Hospice Care
Hospice is a holistic program of care, one that encompasses physical, emotional and social support. Patients receive personalized care, with services focused on comfort and quality of life, and members of the interdisciplinary hospice care team — physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists and other skilled professionals – visit on a regular basis.
Still, in hospice care, family members and friends attend to most day-to-day patient care needs. From preparing food, assisting with personal hygiene, grocery shopping and housekeeping to handling finances, administering medications and handling basic medical tasks, family caregivers have a great deal of responsibilities.
Caring for a loved one as they near the end of life is a heavy burden, and while many people who take on the role of caregiver describe it as being fulfilling and rewarding, it can also be quite stressful. Feelings of anger, guilt, worry and grief are all too common, and for some, the demands of caregiving lead to social challenges and financial difficulties.
In addition, when someone is terminally ill, their family and friends grieve the loss. Knowing that the death of a loved one is approaching can be difficult, even with the understanding that hospice care at home is allowing them to enjoy the best possible quality of life up until the final moment. And for many, finding effective ways to deal with the grieving process is quite the challenge.
Supporting Friends & Family Members of Hospice Patients
Hospice offers more than physical, emotional and social support to individuals with terminal illnesses – Chicago hospice care providers like Suncrest do all they can to assist loved ones, ensuring that the family and friends of every patient have the support they need. To be specific, loved ones can take advantage of the following:
Caregiver Education
Some of the daily tasks family caregivers take charge of are routine, requiring no training, while others – things like monitoring symptoms and managing medication – take some degree of knowledge to hit the mark. Hospice care providers offer training and in-depth instructions, and with a 24-hour nurse triage hotline, help is a phone call away. Also, when the demands of caregiving get to be too much, or a caregiver simply needs some time off, in-patient respite care is available.
Social Worker Services
In the hospice care setting, social workers often act as a point of contact between the family of the patient and members of the interdisciplinary care team. They’re also the go-to source for information about community resources, support groups and financial assistance programs. Many professionals provide counseling and practical care assistance, too, and when families need guidance in making important care decisions regarding a loved one, hospice social workers are there to help.
Spiritual Support
Family members and friends of Chicago hospice patients often need a shoulder to lean on, someone to provide a bit of emotional comfort, and hospice chaplains are the people to call. Chaplains work with individuals of all faith backgrounds, without any judgment or preaching, and by listening and having meaningful conversations, they’re able to provide emotional and mental comfort. Everyone deals with death differently, and chaplains provide the spiritual care that families need.
Bereavement Care
Loved ones of individuals in hospice can access bereavement support services from the moment of admission up until 13 months after the patient’s death. Chicago hospice care providers offer educational resources as well as over-the-phone and in-person grief counseling for those in need. Some assist with memorial service planning and commemorative activities, and specialized services are available for children and teens. In any case, bereavement care is included at no cost to the family.
Understanding Hospice Care in Chicago, Illinois
While the primary goal of hospice care at home is to provide terminally ill individuals with the support they need at the end of life, families aren’t left to their own devices. As we described above, Chicago hospice care providers help ease the burden on families in many ways – and at Suncrest, patients can count on us to provide their loved ones with the support they need. For more information on hospice care at home in Chicago, or to arrange for a consultation, contact us today.
