When a loved one is facing a serious or life-limiting illness, families often need extra support. They want their loved one to feel safe and comfortable at home. They may also need help understanding the different care options available.

In-home care and hospice care can work together to provide that added support. Hospice care focuses on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life. In-home caregivers can help with daily activities such as personal care, meals, mobility, companionship, and light household tasks.

Together, these services can help make daily life more manageable for the individual and their family. They can also help a loved one remain in familiar surroundings while receiving the care and attention they need.

At Seaside Senior Services, LLC, we help families throughout San Diego understand their home care options. Knowing how each type of care works can make it easier to build the right level of support for a loved one at home.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice care is a service generally recommended for individuals who are experiencing significant decline in physical health. These individuals typically anticipate life expectancy of 6 months or less. As such, the top priorities are to control pain and relieve symptoms through medication management and palliative treatments. During this time, the spiritual, physical, and psychical needs of the patient and family members are also considered.

It’s important to note that those who choose hospice services do not go into hospice. Instead, services are provided where the patient lives, whether in a facility environment or private residence.

3 Ways In-home Care and Hospice Care Complement Each Other

Seaside Senior Services, LLC fills gaps in care by providing in-home care to provide additional support to home hospice. In most cases, hospice is not intended to provide 24/7 care. Instead, it’s shorter visits by nurses and other care professionals to provide medical care and other services.

In-home care and hospice care can work together to help fill in the gaps when family or the hospice team can’t be there to ensure continuity of care for patients. Professional caregivers can ensure patients are comfortable and safe. They also keep the family and hospice team updated on any changes in the patient’s needs or condition so they can be proactively addressed.

Here are three ways in-home care and hospice care complement each other:

1.
Filling a Gap in Care

Hospice agencies are limited by patient qualification restrictions and strict continuous care. Therefore, these agencies can’t always provide the continuous care their patients need. In these cases, our professional caregivers can assist with tasks such as dressing, bathing, and providing companionship. These in-home care services ensures patient safety, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and even even providing 24/7 monitoring. We also provide respite care to give family caregivers a chance to rest. This support fills in the care gaps when families need or want more care than hospice can provide.

2.
Help Patients Who Are Not Eligible for Home Hospice

When a patient’s condition improves or stabilizes, they may be discharged from hospice. In-home care offers a full spectrum of services to ensure the patient remains independent and safe upon discharge. For example, services can include transportation to doctor appointments, and assisting with activities of daily living. Caregivers can also notify the patient’s care professionals and family of changes in condition that may lead to a patient being referred back to hospice.

3.
Assisting Hospice in Identifying Individuals in Need of Support

Another way in-home care and hospice care work together is communications. Many healthcare professionals and others find it challenging to bring up the subject of hospice. Our caregivers understand the sensitive nature of hospice care. As such, they can recognize the need for hospice services during in-home care visits. They can help alert the family to an increase in needs in which hospice care is an option worth exploring.

Seaside Senior Services, LLC: Providing Customized Home Care for All Needs

If you or a loved one is in need of in-home care, Seaside Senior Services, LLC is here to help. We provide exceptional in-home care for seniors, and families. We’re here to be a trusted partner in your care needs journey, with a team of compassionate professionals supporting you every step of the way. Our services and care plans are customizable, so you receive just the right amount of care and can adjust as your needs change.

Trusted care starts with a conversation. Call (619) 600-0111 or schedule your free in-home assessment to discover how Seaside Senior Services can support your family with personalized, dependable care.

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