What Is Hospice Care at Home? (Part 1)

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Hospice care is a type of health care for those with terminally ill conditions as they near the end of their lives. The focus of hospice care is on the management of pain as well as emotional, spiritual, and familial support for the patient.

For patients receiving hospice care, there are a number of different options, including being cared for at home. The type of intimate care someone received while in hospice fits well with being given in the peaceful environment of a patient’s own home.

This week I will write about who can benefit from this type of care and when hospice is recommended, and next week I will write about who makes up a hospice care team, who pays for hospice home care, and determining if in-home hospice is right for you.

Who Can Benefit From This Type of Care?

Patients who can benefit from hospice care include those with serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, dementia, kidney failure, or other fatal conditions. A hospice care team can help the patient live a more comfortable life as well as decreasing the emotional burden of grief for family members, including preparing them for the loss of their loved one.

When Is Hospice Recommended?

Although hospice care is generally reserved for those with six months or less to live, early hospice care can also be beneficial for other patients and for their families.

You may want to consider this type of care in the following cases:

  • A patient who has had a serious decline in their physical well-being
  • A patient who has received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
  • A patient who has decided to forgo any treatment to care for or treat their illness

For help with your estate planning needs, contact us at Wilson and Wilson Estate Planning and Elder Law, LLC at 708 482 7090 for our main office in LaGrange, Illinois or at 847 656 8958 for our Deerfield, Illinois office.

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