Hospice Care at Home
Hospice provides care that allows people to live their final days to the fullest, in peace and without pain, in the place that provides the most solace. For many people, that means receiving hospice care at home – where they feel most comfortable and safe.
Why Choose to Receive Hospice Care at Home?
Receiving hospice at home allows people to stay in their own familiar environment, with their family, pets and personal belongings. Many people opt for this care at home to help maintain their daily routines and avoid a loss of independence.
A person can receive hospice care at home if they have a family member or another person who is able to care for them. Hospice care can also be provided at a patient’s residential community center or in one of Gilchrist’s three inpatient hospice centers.
Taking a Break from Caregiving: Respite Care
Taking care of a loved one who is terminally ill can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Gilchrist offers short-term respite care at our inpatient hospice centers or at a contracted skilled nursing facility for patients who receive hospice care at home. This gives families a much-needed break from the demands of caregiving.
Supporting Caregivers at Home
At Gilchrist, we work with families to help ensure their loved ones are able to remain in their homes throughout the course of their illness, and that their time spent there is comfortable and pain-free. Gilchrist team members make regular visits to patients and families at home to address their medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.
It may sound overwhelming to care for your family member at home while they are receiving hospice care. But Gilchrist is there to provide all the help you need. Our team of hospice professionals and volunteers provide support that addresses all the needs of the patient and their caregivers.
Our Hospice Care – Home Care teams will work with caregivers to provide:
- Necessary equipment, medical supplies and medications (e.g., hospital beds, bedside commodes, oxygen),
- Training in the use of equipment
- Education about the disease progression
- Guidance on how to care for your loved one, including managing pain and other symptoms
- Regular home visits from a registered nurse case manager, as well as hospice aides to provide personal care, social workers to provide counseling and support, and chaplains to offer spiritual care
- Volunteer support in homes for companionship, respite for caregivers and errands
- Companions at the bedside (end-of-life doulas) as death nears, to ensure that no one dies alone and that families have the support they need during their most difficult time.
- Guidance on what to expect as death approaches
- Counseling and support, including spiritual support
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week support through our Nurse Helpline
- Practical assistance with accessing benefits, navigating the health care system and decision making
- Personal care such as bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living