Hospice
Deal with Personal Issues
Although most hospice workers have the best intentions — to help the patient be as comfortable and as free from pain as possible — it can be a difficult transition when a private home becomes a place in which caregiving strangers suddenly come and go.
To cover emergencies, be sure that all care providers have complete contact information for those who should be notified — and that they are aware of the patient’s medical preferences and directives, such as Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders and advance directives.
Those who have been involved in receiving hospice care at home report that the biggest adjustment is a loss of privacy. Simply getting a firm commitment of when caregivers will be arriving and how long they will stay during visits can go a long way in alleviating this concern. And if possible, designate areas within the home that are the patient’s or family’s private space, off-limits to others.
Another common complaint is that hospice care providers aren’t attuned to the patient’s personal preferences and quirks that can make the difference between delivering fitting care and simply completing tasks.
For example, even if it does not bear directly on the hospice care provider’s particular duties, it may be helpful for him or her to know about the patient’s:
- Needs around food, sleep, and bathroom habits;
- Body temperature tendencies;
- Home activities, such as a favored television show;
- Preferred exercise and outings; and
- Friends and other social contacts.
