After reading the Caregiver’s Journey book by Eleanor Gaccetta, it is clear that learning more about hospice care is important to take better care of our elderly parents.
In these trying times, when our parents grow too old or sick or are suffering from life-debilitating illnesses or diseases, it can be very, very difficult to find a solution on how to take care of them in their later years, especially because by the time comes, you’ve perhaps already had a life entirely separate from them, a family with children to take care of or other important obligations you cannot force yourself to extricate from.
While it may sound simple to take care of your elderly parents, you will be singing a different tune after reading the Caregiver’s Journey book by Eleanor Gaccetta. Taking of one elderly parent is quite taxing on its own; imagine that you have to take care of two—and that is without considering the other factors that are undoubtedly in play—which is why hospice care is becoming more popular as time passes by.
What is even hospice care anyway?
Hospice care is another kind of health care that is more niche, focusing entirely on providing comfort and assistance to someone so that they are able to maintain a certain level of quality of life. This is especially important to patients who are nearing the end of their lives or are suffering too much that they need highly specialized personal care.
Unlike traditional healthcare, which focuses on either preventing or curing disease and prolonging the patient’s life, hospice care’s only goal is to offer support and make sure that the patient lives their life as painlessly and as comfortably as possible.
My Thoughts on the Matter
Now as I see my parents growing older, I have to sit down and think about a lot of things—and the thing that keeps coming back like a bright light is the question of how I should take care of my parents.
I would like to take care of my parents, of course. They raised me, and it’s only moral that I take care of them in return. But there is a mountain of considerations I need to go over on how. When it comes to hospice care, there are two ways to go about it:
- Have them live at home with me and my family, and we take care of them until their final moments; or
- Have them stay at a hospice care facility and let professionals watch over them.
At first glance, one sounds better than the other—but that is not entirely the case. Each has its own benefits and downsides. If it was objectively the case that one was indeed better than the other, I would not be having this problem—as would a thousand other families all over the country.
That is why to help myself and others who might be struggling with the decision in the future, and I made pros and cons for both hospice care at home and at a facility.
Hospice Care at the Home
Pros of hospice care at home:
- Many older people, like my parents, would love to spend their twilight years either with family or simply within the comfort of their own homes.
- In-house hospice care is often less expensive compared to placing your parents inside a nursing home.
- Keeping your parents or older relatives at home means you are more immediately available if any issue arises.
Cons of hospice care at home:
- If you are going with hospice care at home, more often than not, the caretakers will be members of your own family—while that sounds nice, they are often untrained in caregiving.
- Not every home is conducive to adequate hospice care. Not everyone can afford to renovate their home to accommodate a dying individual.
- While family-specific decisions can be made quickly, more medically inclined ones may be harder because of the absence of professionals.
Hospice Care at a Facility
Pros of hospice care at a facility:
- A facility that is specifically catered to hospice care will undoubtedly be more equipped to deal with it, from specialized rooms and equipment to highly trained professionals working around the clock.
- The presence of professionals means a wider pool of expertise and support, whether it is practical or emotional.
- Hospice care facilities are fully capable of providing care for their patients 24/7.
Cons of hospice care at a facility:
- While a facility sounds nice in conversation, it is very expensive in practice, although some healthcare providers might be able to avail of some assistance.
- Facilities are often located far from the cities and might require planning and scheduling to conduct a visit.
- Patients might feel isolated or anxious living in an unfamiliar place, which may lead to the quick deterioration of their conditions.
Questions to Ask
While I have made my case, it is by no means an easy thing to consider–and there may be things that I blew over or did not even consider.
But, if you are already at the point of choosing, these are some questions you might want to ask yourself before deciding:
- Have you asked the patient’s thoughts?
- Have you considered what your family can offer?
- Have you inquired about the services in your area?
- Have you weighed the cost of either possibility?
The Happy Hammock 