Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual resources for people who are in the last stages of a terminal illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one.

Why would I choose hospice care?

The goal of hospice treatment is to keep you comfortable and improve your quality of life while you are dying. This philosophy is a shift from usual medical treatments, in which health professionals strive to cure your disease. Hospice services differ from traditional hospital care. They are not intended to speed up or prolong the dying process. They focus instead on relieving pain and other symptoms. Hospice caregivers are concerned with enhancing the quality of your remaining life. They strive to keep you as comfortable as possible, while at the same time with family and loved ones. Not in a cold hospital setting prolonging the inevitable.

Hospice programs offer services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in your own home or in a hospice center. Some hospices also offer services in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or hospitals. Hospice care is said to be a "lifesaver" by many in need of urgent care.

What is elder care?

Many seniors would prefer to continue living in their own homes, also known as “aging in place“, while still maintaining a certain level of independence and dignity. Medical science is preventing early sudden deaths, which means elders are living longer with impaired health and greater risk of needing long-term care. Unfortunately, many lose the ability to function on their own and require additional help in the home. The elderly population is one of the fastest growing sectors of the population today.

Should I choose a retirement home setting?

Retirement homes provide a high level of continuous care. Most offer 24 hour supervision, socialization, and can ensure that medications are taken at appropriate times. This type of elder care is especially important for seniors living at home who feel isolated, do not have the energy to make a meal for themselves, and get confused taking multiple medications with differing administration times. Some seniors have trouble remembering and therefore forget to eat or take prescribed medication. Also, some medications must be taken on an empty stomach, some with food, some need to be taken at specific intervals to be effective, so this can be supervised for elderly residents.

How do I find the right facility for my loved one?

Take the time to understand which services that your loved one might need. The facility you choose will depend mostly on the level of care needed. It is important to select a facility that will offer the services listed below at a minimum, while more may be required.

• Physician available or on-staff
• Rehabilitation services
• Nursing Care
• Medication monitoring
• Meals and dietary counseling
• Religious Services
• Recreation & Social activities
• Social-work services and counseling

These services not only cover your loved one’s medical needs, but vital daily needs such meals, personal care, and social interaction. In order to meet your loved one’s medical needs, a nursing home should offer the following:

• Access to Wheelchairs
• Hospital style beds than can adjust
• Oxygen
• Walkers
• Equipment for transferring residents
• Bathroom aids such as shower chairs and tub bars

Whether you choose a nursing home, retirement community, or at home care, make sure to thoroughly check the backgrounds of those that will be caring for your family member. You can verify a facility’s credentials and learn of any complaints with online resources such as the Better Business Bureau. When interviewing staff and administrators at various facilities, you should also ask if they run background checks on their employees.