Coming face to face with the reality that a family member is near the end of their life is tough to do. Decisions need to be made about the types of care that person wants to receive and that means asking and answering some tough questions. Choosing to opt for hospice care service is easier after answering some of these questions as openly and honestly as possible.
Has the Senior Decided to End Curative Therapies for Chronic Illness?
Seniors who are battling chronic or progressive illnesses may be continuing curative treatments. What often happens, however, is that those curative therapies may no longer be appealing. They may be painful or have side effects that are too much for the patient. Having honest and open conversations about whether those curative therapies are still working is important. It’s equally important to understand how the patient feels about continuing those therapies.
Have Curative Therapies Stopped Working?
Sometimes seniors may want to continue with curative therapies, but they aren’t working as well as they were. In some cases, the curative treatments may no longer be working at all. When that happens, seniors may find that hospice care is a better fit for their needs. The focus for medical providers may be moving more toward comfort care and helping the patient manage the symptoms they’re experiencing rather than trying to cure the condition.
What Do the Senior’s Doctors Say About Their Health?
Another important consideration for everyone involved in the decision-making process is what the patient’s medical providers are saying about what’s going on. When seniors have an expected life span of less than six months, hospice care becomes an option for them to access. Understanding the prognosis that seniors are facing and looking at what is going on now with their health can help families determine if this type of care is the right option for moving forward.
Does the Senior Want to Stay at Home Instead of Going to the Hospital?
When health worsens significantly for aging adults, they may find that they’re making a lot more trips to their doctor’s offices. In a worst-case scenario, they’re visiting the emergency room and the hospital a lot more than they were. That can be a deciding factor for seniors because deciding to stay at home as much as possible rather than heading to the hospital is a valid concern. Hospice care allows patients to remain at home where they are more comfortable, receiving the care that they still need.
Choosing to move to hospice care is not one that families and patients take lightly. Understanding what the determining factors are by asking the right questions is an important step for families to take when they’re trying to decide what to do. It’s also important for families to understand that opting for hospice care doesn’t mean that seniors have to stay with that course of treatment. They can leave if it doesn’t truly suit their needs.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Hospice Care Services near Danbury CT, please call and talk to our friendly and dedicated staff. (203) 744-8380
Home Care Advantage provides quality Non-Medical Home Care for seniors and families in Danbury, Bethel, Easton, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Southbury, Weston, Westport, Wilton, and surrounding areas.
With over 25 years of healthcare experience working with seniors, our model and approach to non-medical home care services are straightforward, providing you with the compassionate care you deserve. Providing care from the heart is what we are all about; we proactively work with you and your family to develop a care plan designed to meet your specific need for assistance and budget.
In addition to having an extensive work background in healthcare, my recent educational experience allowed me to earn my Doctorate Degree in public healthcare. This achievement enhanced my knowledge of the ever-evolving healthcare delivery system and heightened my awareness that you cannot go it alone to get the best outcome. Additionally, I have seen how some of my family members struggled and were overwhelmed with ensuring that their parents were safe and their needs were met. They did not know who to trust or where to turn for reliable and affordable help. I have made it our mission to be part of the solution allowing seniors to remain independent and be treated with the respect they deserve.
We are committed to providing excellent care for our clients, just as we would care for members of our own families. Please be assured that I will use my knowledge and background to protect and be a trusted resource for seniors and their families.
You can be confident that our caregivers are carefully screened, dependable, and selectively chosen to meet the specific needs of our clients. They are experienced and highly trained to provide excellent quality care and follow a strict professional code of conduct and ethics.
Our caregivers are competitively paid directly by our agency; there is no additional charge to you. Home Care Advantage files Social Security/Medicare, Federal and State Withholding Tax, and Unemployment Insurance for our employees. Workers’ compensation insurance and a fidelity bond cover the caregivers and supervisory staff.
Our caregivers are here for you and will work hard to assist you with your specific needs in the comfort of your own home. It is said that “Home is where the heart is.” Let Home Care Advantage provide care that will enrich your life and help you maintain an independent lifestyle in the comfort of your own home, “where you want to be.” Call us now! We look forward to working with you and your family.
Dr. Beverly J. Ruekberg, DHP, MPH, MA, Ed.
President/Geriatric Care Manager
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