Hospice Care At Home In Collierville City, California
The great majority of hospice care is administered in the patient’s residence. According to recent research issued by The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), more than one-third of hospice care is administered in the comfort of a patient’s home. Given the number of patients who want to receive hospice care in the comfort of their own homes, the topic of how to best prepare a home for hospice care is a natural one to ask.
How to Prepare a Home for Hospice
Families that are more prepared for the process of preparing their home for hospice care not only make the process easier for themselves but also have the potential to make the process less stressful for their loved one who is terminally ill. Along these same lines, research has shown that a lack of preparation is related to an increased risk of anxiety, significant depression, and complicated mourning for loved ones as well as for caregivers.
In light of the significance of being well-prepared, it is essential to confer with the hospice care provider and the patient’s care team to compile a checklist of things that need to be done to get the patient’s house ready. At this point, the hospice provider and other care team members will most likely inquire about receiving an overview of the patient’s home environment. This is done to better comprehend what is required to provide care to the patient in the most efficient manner possible.
The preparations needed to get the house suitable for hospice care can be broken down into two major categories: the preparedness of the caregivers and the patient’s comfort.
Caregiver Preparation
In spite of the fact that hospice care is administered in the patient’s home, it is essential to determine whether or not the patient’s living environment will enable caregivers to provide adequate assistance to the hospice patient. It is not expected that a home will be converted into a hospital room; however, the house should be organized in such a way that it makes it simple for carers to perform their duties while still providing a secure atmosphere for the patient to be in. When a person is getting their home ready for hospice care, some of the fundamental things they should think about are listed below.
Make The Home Accessible to Both Patient and Caregiver
One’s house during hospice care can serve as a haven of solace and a productive activity for the patient. Therefore, living rooms will need to be safe and easily accessible for both the patient and the caregiver, just as would be the case in a healthcare center or a facility that provides long-term care. In this respect, a home should have sufficient space to move around in, and the patient should be able to wander securely around the house. A patient could require assistance when walking in many different scenarios. As a result, the home should have clear walkways devoid of potential hazards, and if necessary, it should include grab bars and other devices that assist with mobility to prevent people from falling. A patient who has trouble moving around alone and carrying out activities of daily life may require particular caution when it comes to the restroom because this room can provide a risk (ADLs).
In addition to providing a safe environment in which a patient can move and caregivers can carry out their work, consideration should also be given to any medical equipment that may be required while services are being provided. This should occur concurrently with the goal of providing a safe environment where patients can move. It is essential to offer the additional patient consideration for the possibility that they may require specialized medical equipment to take a shower or move around the house. As was mentioned before, the patient’s living space at home should be devoid of any obstructions. It should be organized in a way that enables the patient, their caretakers, and any necessary medical equipment to move around freely in the area.
Find a Suitable Place For a Bed
It is essential to locate an area that is both convenient and pleasant for the placement of the patient’s bed if the patient is expected to spend the bulk of their time in bed. A hospital bed can provide a safer and easier way for a patient to receive care, and it can also remove barriers to assist the patient with dressing and make the bed much more accessible. If a patient is having difficulty getting in and out of a regular bed, a hospital bed can provide a safer and easier way for a patient to receive care.
A hospital bed is comparable to a standard twin bed and features a movable foot and head that may be raised and lowered independently of one another. The bed is often wheeled and has bed rails that may be converted into different configurations to ensure the patient’s safety. When deciding where to put a hospital bed, it is crucial to think about the activity that will be going on in the area around the mattress, how easy it will be to get to the bed, and whether or not any medical equipment will need to be near the bed.
Given the importance that must be placed on convenience, security, and ease of use, it might be challenging to locate a suitable location in which to set up a bed in a private residence in which hospice care will be offered. In addition to this, it can be challenging to persuade a patient to give up sleeping in their bed, and the layout of a house’s interior may not always allow for the placement of a hospital bed in a location where both the patient and their caregivers can easily access it. This is especially true if the bed is just a few steps above ground level.
Patient Comfort
The goal of hospice care is to make patients as comfortable as possible while battling a terminal illness. This is the guiding idea behind hospice care. As a result, the home setting should be prepared in such a way that the patient is surrounded by environments that are as cozy as is humanly possible. It is essential to keep in mind that even though hospice care is provided in the patient’s home, the patient’s environment at home should strive to be a happy medium between a conducive climate for receiving medical attention and the home environment to which the patient is accustomed and is most comfortable. This is, in many respects, a balancing act in which the need for caretakers to provide a secure and workable environment is balanced against the need for an environment that is calming and pleasant.
Lighting, Sound, and Temperature
A typical home is frequently a hive of activity, with lots of noise and odors. People will enter and exit the house, doors will be opened and closed, there is a possibility that the television or radio will be on, and appliances will be used if numerous people live there. Some patients may find it soothing to observe the usual activity around a house because it may give them a sense that their lives are returning to normal.
On the other hand, some patients could feel uneasy in a home setting that is more typical of their everyday lives. As a result, it is essential to pay attention to the patient’s preferences and the factors that will make them feel the most at ease. One thing that needs to be considered, particularly for patients confined to bed for extended periods, is ensuring that their windows have sufficient covering or shade. Because a bedridden patient will spend most of the day in the exact location, it is essential to ensure that sunlight and any other artificial light from outside can be blocked if necessary. This will help prevent the patient from being overexposed to the sun and prevent nighttime restlessness.
While a healthy person can tolerate temperature fluctuations within their home, people taking drugs may be more sensitive to changes in temperature. Sensitivity to temperature extremes is possible for patients suffering from terminal illnesses. If the patient does not find the room temperature comfortable in the typical setting, it is essential to ensure access to a fan or heater.
Comfort Items
Whether it’s a comfortable chair, a toasty blanket, or the “go-to” snack foods one usually keeps stocked in the cabinet, many components of one’s home environment can bring about feelings of ease and contentment. The goal of keeping patients comfortable is one of the primary focuses of hospice care; this objective can be accomplished by providing patients with various items that are typically regarded as similar to those found in a home. Even a patient who is required to be in bed most of the time can still benefit from sitting in their comfy chair. Moreover, if the dietary requirements let it, a patient should have access to all the items they regularly eat while at home. A living situation that may look like a temporary hospital can be made to feel more like home by providing patients with the same creature comforts they have access to while at home.
Consultation with the patient’s hospice provider and care team is recommended to address any concerns regarding the best way to get the patient’s home ready for hospice care as the patient’s private residence becomes increasingly utilized as the location for hospice care. After the caregiver’s concerns have been addressed, family and friends of a patient receiving hospice care can do an excellent service by attempting to make the patient’s home surroundings as comfortable as possible. Contact Melodia Care Hospice if you want additional information on getting your house ready for hospice care.
