Having a loved one that is in need of hospice care can obviously be a difficult thing for someone to accept as they come to the realization that their loved one is potentially entering the last stages of their life, when Curative Care is no longer an option.  Hospice care is often associated with many negative things but what many people fail to recognize is the benefits that it provides. It is important to understand that being on hospice care is not a death sentence. Though many people are put on hospice when they are only expected to live 6 more months or less, some people do eventually recover. It is understandable that many people wait to put their loved one on hospice because of the negative stigma surrounding this type of care but many professionals would agree that it is better to put the patient on hospice sooner rather than later. It is common for the family to put their loved ones on hospice in their later stages of life and then blame the death on the patient care team. Because of this, we recommend agreeing to hospice care sooner rather than later. Another concern about hospice care is the cost. One benefit of working with a hospice agency is that medicare pays for medical care such as pain management, medication, a social worker, and emotional support to families through bereavement up to 12 months after the death of their loved one.

Hospice care can include attending to the patient's physical, mental and spiritual health in order to make them as comfortable as possible. Hospice gives patients the opportunity to receive the care that they need in the comfort of their own homes instead of being taken care of in a hospital or Nursing Home. This provides a better quality of life, better care, and more comfort. It also provides the opportunity to be surrounded by loved ones as well as be in a familiar environment. You can eat the food that you like, keep up with your activities, and more. It is important for the patient to be matched with a caregiver that makes them as comfortable as possible while also meeting their needs. At Happier at Home Care, we select a variety of caregivers with hospice experience and match the client with the right caregiver. We work with experienced hospice agencies providing nurses who help with pain management and medication while our caregivers help with the quality of life and ADL care. This care includes bathing and dressing patients, keeping their environment clean, changing bed linens, and more. Our caregivers follow hospice care plans designed individually for each hospice patient in order to meet their needs and provide dignity and comfort care. Our caregivers are at each client’s side in their time of need not only as a caregiver but also as a companion and even a friend. It is our mission to do what we can to ensure the comfort and dignity of each and every client.