Many people who are terminally ill choose to remain at home or enter a home-like
alternative care setting such as a hospice. This decision may be closely
connected with a desire to achieve death with dignity. This page gives general
information on hospice and home care; we have another page that can help you
find a hospice. We also have a page of resources for hospice volunteer training.
A key objective in hospice and home care is to obtain high-quality palliative
care to control pain and preserve the highest possible quality of life for as
long as life remains. Ensuring optimal care depends on the nature of the
specific disease process that is leading toward death; you can research specific
conditions using health care directories.
For elderly people, the decision to begin hospice or home care is often linked
to more general issues regarding basic living arrangements, finances, and aging.
Many eldercare resources exist to provide care for the total person.
Because it can take some time for hospice professionals to tailor palliative
care and pain management to each person, it is best to begin some level of
professional care before a crisis exists. Families often feel it is "too soon"
to begin hospice care and wait until death is very near. Bringing hospice
professionals in at the last minute limits their effectiveness. A better
approach is to arrange introductory home meetings or hospice visits well in
advance of need and obtain counseling from a hospice professional who can
provide helpful suggestions on care arrangements. Put the support network in
place before you need it.
The decision to begin hospice care may intensify feelings of grief and
bereavement, both in the person who is dying and in others. Many
support groups are available to help you through this
end of life process, including groups for bereaved families.
volunteer today
There are many ways to help Hospice Home Care patients and caregivers. We
would love to put you to work wherever you feel most comfortable. The extras
that our volunteers can provide just by being there really do make a difference
to our patients and caregivers. > more
Many people who are terminally ill choose to remain at home or enter a home-like
alternative care setting such as a hospice. This decision may be closely
connected with a desire to achieve death with dignity. This page gives general
information on hospice and home care; we have another page that can help you
find a hospice. We also have a page of resources for hospice volunteer training.