Published: January 13, 2025
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Hospice care is an option for someone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less. Its focus is to ease pain, enhance comfort, and help make the most of the remaining time with loved ones. Your family can arrange hospice care at a hospital, inpatient hospice facility, long-term care facility, or home. People often choose hospice at home because it’s a familiar, relaxed environment.
Not knowing what to expect during the transition to hospice care at home, however, can leave you feeling anxious at an already difficult time. Understanding what’s next will go a long way in helping your family rest easier. And we hope you’ll find peace of mind knowing your hospice care team will support you through every step of the process.
1. Determining your end-of-life preferences and making them known
Your hospice care team will guide you through:
- Developing a plan of care (POC). The hospice team will meet with your family to create a personalized plan of care that considers the patient’s symptoms and wishes, as well as the preferences of the family and caregivers. The POC includes information about needed medications, services, medical supplies, and equipment, and outlines a schedule of visits from the doctor, nurse, medical social worker, home health aide, chaplain, and volunteers. As a guide for care, the POC is regularly reviewed and can be adjusted at any time.
- Enacting an advance directive. This is also an ideal time to complete an advance directive, which typically consists of a living will and a health care power of attorney. A living will makes known your end-of-life preferences in case you aren’t able to communicate them. It can include instructions on things like organ donation, refusal of specific treatments, and use of a breathing machine. You can also complete a health care power of attorney which appoints a loved one to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if needed.
2. Equipping your space
The hospice team will ensure the home is properly equipped for care, prioritizing safety and accessibility.
One of the first steps is deciding where to place the bed, considering patient comfort and accessibility for caregivers. The hospice team will talk with you or your loved one about lighting, sound, and temperature preferences. This may require adding window coverings, lamps, soft music, white noise, a fan, a heater, or blankets.
The team also will arrange for the delivery of needed equipment and supplies, related to the hospice diagnosis as ordered by a physician, including:
- Bed (hospital or reclining)
- Bedside commode
- Disposable gloves
- Incontinence supplies
- Medications, needles, and syringes
- Wheelchair or walker
3. Meeting the Traditions Health Team
Many individuals make up your hospice care team. They can vary according to your needs, but may include:
- Physician
- Skilled Nurse
- Medical Social Worker
- Spiritual Professional
- Hospice Health Aide
- Bereavement Support Services
- Volunteers
The team will work with you and your caregivers to arrange a convenient schedule, so you know what to expect each day.
During these visits, you can share concerns or ask questions. For the best possible experience, communication among the patient, caregiver, and hospice team members to manage expectations and minimize misunderstandings is vital.
We’re here with all the support you need
At Traditions Health, we understand this can be an overwhelming time. But you can count on us for compassionate support and guidance to help your family find comfort during this time. Please contact us for more information.