Myths about Hospice and Why Choose Hospice
Most people don’t think about or plan to care for someone near end of life. That’s because it can be a scary and stressful thing. Just keep in mind there are experts in our community to help you through the process such as in home care, home health care, palliative care, and hospice care. These resources can help take the burden off the families so you can enjoy the precious time you have with your loved ones.
First, I think it’s important to dispel some myths about hospice. Most people think hospice is where you go to die, which is far from the truth. Hospice gives people hope, comfort, peace, dignity, and quality of living towards the end of one’s life. It can also prolong one’s life because of the quality of care that is offered through hospice. When someone enters hospice, it’s important to understand they may have more than just a few days or weeks. Some patience will have several months or even years to live a better quality of life. Paired with home care services, a patient can have the one-on-one care and attention they need so that they don’t feel alone. It also gives the family members support and respite in a time of need. Families can have that precious time with their loved ones without the stress of having to also care for them.
Another myth is that hospice is expensive. Keep in mind if your health is declining hospice may be a solution. Especially if you’ve exhausted all your resources and need the assistance, hospice is fully funded by Medicare/Medicaid benefits. Most people do not know this! So, make sure to find a resource in your community you can talk to and see if they can help you determine if your loved one can qualify for these benefits. The benefits can cover a lot more than people think including care, medications, equipment, and more.
Palliative Care can be a Great Alternative to Hospice
There is also something called palliative care. If you’re not familiar with the healthcare field, you may not be familiar with this term. Palliative care can be an alternative for hospice or someone who has a serious illness such as: heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and many others. These patients can seek curative treatments and can be provided care at any stage of the illness. Again, Palliative care may also be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance policies.
Seeking Care for Your Loved One
It’s never to soon to start looking into your options. The best thing to keep in mind is that you’re looking for resources to help care for your loved ones. If you hear the word hospice or palliative care, it doesn’t mean someone is dying or giving up. It’s simply extra help. These options can take a huge amount of burden off a family because they provide the help they need, in a time of need. We often hear from families that say they wish they had known about these services earlier.
HOW ASSISTING HANDS ROCKFORD CAN HELP
This article is intended to offer families resources and relief. When families are in crisis, they need all the support they can get. That is were Assisting Hands Rockford can utilize its network of healthcare providers to find ways to pay for the extra help. Give us a call to see how we partner with hospice facilities in Rockford and how we can best serve your family (815) 884-CARE.
At Assisting Hands Rockford we offer respite care for families who are caring for their loved ones. Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers. It can be arranged for 4 hours, several days or even months.
Respite Care and In Home Care Services Include:
- In-Home Personal Care & Grooming
- Bathing
- Oral Care
- In-Home Meal Preparation
- Feeding, Grocery Shopping & Errands for Seniors
- Light Housekeeping for Seniors
- Medication Reminders
- Walking and Transferring Assistance
- Toileting & Incontinence
- In-Home Companionship for Seniors
- Home Safety & Fall Prevention
- Alzheimer’s Care
- Transitional Care
- Orthopedic Care
- Dementia Care
- Parkinson’s Care
- Veteran Care
- Hospice Support
- Stroke Care
