Is it Better to Have Hospice Care at Home or at a Nursing Nome?
As people get older, there are many difficult decisions that must be made. Health challenges are inevitable with aging, and there will come a time when it’s clear that the end of life is approaching. It could be that a previously healthy person has begun a sudden decline, or someone with a serious illness has just been told that it’s terminal. When that time comes for your older loved one, what’s the right thing to do? Is it time for hospice care? Should that care be given at home or in a nursing home?
There are many different types of elderly care services available for families to choose, and a wide range of options to research before a decline in health becomes extreme. Sometimes in-home care is sufficient if the needs are not excessive, or dementia home care if Alzheimer’s or a similar condition. Alternately, your loved one may be in a retirement community that focuses on independent living, without very much medical support. On the other end of the spectrum are senior assisted living homes where people are given round-the-clock medical care. Some assisted living facilities offer a blend of living arrangements so that residents can have the independence they desire until they need more care and assistance.
People often move to nursing homes after they’ve spent some time in assisted living homes. When their health declines and they need 24-hour care, nursing homes are equipped to provide this. Nursing homes can be home-like, or they can be similar to a hospital, and in fact, they’re often used as a place to recover after a hospital stay. Their focus is on helping their residents maintain their health and quality of life.
Hospice is different from a nursing home, in that people qualify for hospice when they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and have a life expectancy of six months or less. Care is provided where the person lives, and that care is varied. Medical services are provided, along with spiritual services and social services. Hospice can also provide bereavement support for the person’s family. If your loved one is living in a nursing home, hospice care can be provided there. On the other hand, there’s no need to place someone in a nursing home to take advantage of hospice services. Hospice care can be provided in a hospital or in the comfort of the family home.
When it’s time to make difficult, end-of-life decisions, you can rely on Helping Hands for Seniors to help. For over a decade, Helping Hands has been matching elderly patients with care and facilities, and we’ll help you find the right senior care services for your loved one. We understand how difficult it can be to entrust an important person in your life into the care of another, and we’re committed to helping smooth the process. We strive to provide our clients with the best options and educate them so that they can make well-informed decisions. To take advantage of our network of care providers and compassionate services in Portland and the surrounding area, call 503-694-9577 or contact us through our website.