When a family member is given a finite life expectancy, there can be many challenges and difficult conversations. However, a terminal illness diagnosis doesn’t have to mean a permanent stay in a hospital away from the support of loved ones.
In-home hospice care allows patients to remain in the comfortable, peaceful environment of their homes surrounded by loved ones during their final days. Assisting Hands West Houston does not provide clinical hospice care — but we do offer hospice support services, working hand-in-hand with licensed hospice providers. We pride ourselves on our compassionate approach to hospice care support that enriches a patient’s quality of life and provides peace of mind to their families.
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care focuses on providing comfort and support to individuals who are in the final stages of a terminal illness. Typically, hospice care is introduced when a patient is given a prognosis of six months or less to live. Rather than focusing on curative treatment, this type of care emphasizes pain and symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support for end-of-life.
Depending on a patient’s needs and preferences, hospice care can be provided at home, in hospice centers, nursing homes, or hospitals. It involves an interdisciplinary team of providers — doctors, nurses, caregivers, social workers, chaplains — who help the patient spend their remaining time in comfort and dignity.
Hospice vs. Palliative Care
Both hospice and palliative care aim to manage pain and improve the quality of life for those with serious illnesses, but they differ in terms of prognosis and goals. As we know, hospice care is a specialized healthcare service that provides comfort, support, and end-of-life care to individuals with terminal illnesses and their families.
Palliative care, however, focuses on maintaining the highest quality of life for patients with serious, life-altering illnesses. This type of care is for those who continue to receive curative treatment but need assistance with pain and symptom management. Patients can request palliative care at diagnosis, during curative or life-prolonging treatment, and at any stage of the illness.
Home Hospice Care
With at-home hospice care, patients can stay home where they are the most comfortable. Hospice is provided by a hospice support team, and if the patient’s condition changes, support is available 24/7.
At-home hospice services reduce the need to travel back and forth from hospitals, making it easier for family members to spend time with their loved ones. For family members experiencing caregiver burnout, hospice services provide respite care and allow them temporary relief so that they can recover from the strenuous demands of at-home care.
What Is Hospice Support?
Hospice support refers specifically to the non-medical assistance we provide in collaboration with hospice agencies. Our caregivers fulfill critical roles, supporting comfort, preserving dignity, and supplying compassionate, practical care tailored to the needs of both patients and their families. Unlike hospice care, which is overseen by medical professionals, hospice support is rooted in emotional and everyday practicalities that make a profound difference to quality of life.
Hospice Care vs. Hospice Support
Families often wonder about the difference between hospice care and hospice support. While the two work together closely, they are not the same. Here are the differences:
- Hospice Care: Delivered by licensed medical professionals (nurses, doctors, social workers) and focused on pain management, medical treatment, and clinical oversight during end-of-life care.
- Hospice Support: Provided by caregivers like those at Assisting Hands. It centers on services that enhance quality of life and complement the work of hospice care teams, such as daily living assistance, emotional companionship, and respite for families.
Together, hospice care and hospice support create a holistic approach that addresses both the medical and personal needs of patients and families.
Planning for End-of-Life Care
Discussing end-of-life planning is never easy, and the burden can fall heavily on the loved ones caring for elderly or ill parents. It’s important to have these conversations before you or a loved one receives a limited life expectancy diagnosis so that your medical care is handled according to your wishes.
Creating a Personalized Care Plan
A personalized care plan should be created to ensure alignment with personal preferences. Discuss these preferences with your family and designate a healthcare proxy or medical power of attorney who can make medical decisions on your behalf.
An end-of-life care plan is typically comprised of:
- Advanced directives (living will and Do Not Resuscitate orders)
- Reviewing insurance policies (health insurance, life insurance, long-term care insurance)
- Updating legal documents (wills, trusts, other documents that reflect asset distribution)
- Defining a care team (primary care provider, specialists, hospice care providers)
- Establishing a comprehensive medical care plan (pain management, symptom control, emotional and spiritual support)
Our Hospice Support Services
Assisting Hands caregivers are trained to provide non-medical assistance to our clients for a dignified end of life. We have extensive experience partnering up with hospice agencies to offer the best possible care. Those services include:
- Medication reminders: Assisting Hands will help with medication reminders to ensure patients won’t miss scheduled medications.
- Bathing, grooming, and clothing: We assist with daily living activities and personal care tasks by helping clients with moving, transferring, and positioning to enhance comfort.
- Housekeeping: Our caregivers offer housekeeping services to help families manage daily household tasks.
- Meal preparation: We help ensure nutritious meals are ready and available with our grocery shopping and meal preparation services.
- Compassionate, one-on-one companionship: Our caregivers provide our clients with emotional support and companionship. We offer a compassionate listening ear and engage in activities, such as reading and watching TV, with them.
- Respite care for family members: We provide family members with temporary relief from caregiving to allow them time to rest and recharge. Learn more about respite care.
How Assisting Hands West Houston Can Help With Hospice Support
At Assisting Hands West Houston, we understand the profound importance of compassionate and comprehensive hospice care. Our at-home hospice support care services are designed to provide comfort, dignity, and support during one of life’s most challenging times. We also understand how difficult it is to make a decision when choosing a hospice agency.
We can help in the process. Call us at (281) 369-5858 or message us by clicking on the chat box on the right.
