Is someone you hold dear ready for hospice care?
The admission process begins with a consultation, and most hospice agencies in the Virginia Beach area will send a representative out to your loved one’s home – or wherever they reside – at no cost and without any obligation to accept services. During the consultation, anyone can ask questions or raise concerns, as the meeting is intended to be informational.
That being so, a key part of every hospice consultation is a discussion about who will attend to the daily needs of the patient. Members of the hospice team visit on a regular basis, as it’s their job to ensure the individual is as comfortable as possible. But hospice physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, counselors, therapists, aides and volunteers are there to provide support, not to serve as primary caregivers – that’s the role of the patient’s loved ones.
Hospice Care and the Tasks of Family Caregivers
When a loved one has a life-limiting illness, arranging for hospice care is beneficial. Hospice services enable patients to live out their remaining time in comfort, and the costs are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private health insurance plans.
Most hospice care provided – more than 98 percent – is at the routine home care level. In other words, hospice comes to wherever the individual calls home. And while Virginia Beach hospice agencies make every effort to ensure a patient’s needs are met, family members typically act as the main caregivers. The role is an important one, and it involves a range of tasks. If you’re called upon to care for a loved one, you might be responsible for any or all of the following:
- Assisting with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating
- Handling the household shopping, cleaning, cooking and laundry
- Paying bills, running errands and providing transportation to appointments
- Monitoring symptoms and keeping track of medication administration
- Helping to ensure that your loved one receives the services they need
As the loved one of a hospice patient, you might act as their advocate, making sure that physical pain and psychological suffering are minimized. You may end up being their emotional punching bag as well, and in that case, you’ll need to provide support – listening and offering solace without judgment.
Being the primary caregiver of a hospice patient can be rewarding, but it can also be a rather demanding position. With that in mind, caregiver support is an essential part of hospice care.
How Hospice Agencies Support Family Caregivers
Some tasks family caregivers handle for hospice patients are routine and require no training – things like cleaning the house, doing the laundry and preparing meals are in the wheelhouse of most adults. But what about symptom monitoring, medication management and the other tasks that require some degree of skill and knowledge?
Caregiver learning can be a process of trial and error, and with regard to food choices, communication and helping the patient move from one spot or position to another, this approach can make sense. However, family caregivers shouldn’t be left to muddle through, and they shouldn’t have to address challenges on their own. Fortunately, Medicare-approved hospice agencies – like Suncrest Hospice of Virginia Beach – have 24-hour nurse triage hotlines. When a caregiver has questions or concerns, help is just a phone call away.
Even so, that’s not an adequate amount of support. Family caregivers tend to appreciate a more guided learning process, with in-depth instructions provided by members of the hospice care team. That’s the strategy we take here at Suncrest. Families can always contact us, but we aim to make sure that caregivers always have the information they need to properly care for loved ones throughout the hospice journey.
Respite Care – A Break for Family Caregivers
Caring for a loved one with a life-limiting illness is incredibly stressful. Addressing their needs as quickly as possible is the priority, and can be rather challenging. Plus, acting as the primary caregiver of a hospice patient can be like taking a full-time job – yet many people in this position already have jobs, and every caregiver has their own life to lead.
When family caregivers are overwhelmed, exhausted or having trouble coping, hospice respite care offers relief. Having others take the reins lifts the burden, and taking a break allows for renewed energy and patience.
Caregivers of Virginia Beach hospice patients have the right to request respite care when in need of time away, whatever the reason. Quite often, it’s to relax and recharge, but hospice respite assistance can also be arranged for the purpose of attending a graduation, wedding or any other important event. In any case, Medicare covers respite care, and hospice patients can receive care at a local facility for up to five days each time respite is requested. However, there may be a small copayment involved.
If you become the primary caregiver for a loved one, you’ll be an essential member of their hospice team – but remember to take care of yourself, too. With Suncrest Hospice of Virginia Beach, you’ll have the support you need. For more on the role of family caregivers in hospice, or to speak to one of our helpful team members today, contact us now.
