The goal of hospice care is to keep a patient as comfortable as possible. If your family member is nearing the end of their life, you may need to prepare your home for a hospice care plan. The following strategies will create a pleasant atmosphere that is conducive to your loved one's needs.
Remove Barriers
Barriers within the room that your family member will be sleeping in could cause injuries or obstruct the hospice care team members from providing bedside services. Eliminate excess furnishings, clothing, and other items from the room. Keep in mind that your family member may require the use of an IV bag, an oxygen tank, or another type of equipment that will aid in treating your loved one's medical condition.
The addition of this type of equipment may necessitate that you move your family member's bed. This will allow the caregivers to set up any equipment that is essential in caring for your relative. A member from the care team will likely oversee bathing and toileting needs. Remove excess items from the bathroom that your family member will be using. Invest in a bathing seat, handrails, and other medical aids that your family member may need.
Provide Familiar Items
Familiarity can go a long way in keeping a patient's mood optimistic. Because some of the items in your home may seem representative of a hospital setting now, adding some personal effects can tone down the clinical vibe. Place a favorite comforter or pillow on your loved one's bed. Set their favorite reading materials or photographs on a bedside table that will be within reach.
Prepare A Notebook
A notebook that contains vital details about your family member's health and personal preferences will guide a care team in providing your family member with the level of care they deserve. The notebook can include information about any allergies that your loved one has, the medications that your family member has been taking thus far, and the dietary requirements that their primary care doctor has put into place.
Although a care team may already be briefed on what your loved one's status is, it can be very helpful to provide the care team with a detailed overview of what your relative's day-to-day life has been like. Keep the notebook in a common area that the care team members can access. Encourage the team members to use the notebook as a means of corresponding with you. Any changes in your family member's condition can be logged in the book.
For additional information about hospice care, contact a home car service such as Good Heart Hospice.
Share19 July 2022
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