Dr. Eboni Green
September 16, 2021
The process of choosing the right hospice facility can become even more difficult for a family member who has been serving as their loved one’s caregiver for years. Relinquishing even one duty to a team of hospice care professionals may be intimidating, but the right facility can give round-the-clock care that improves a loved one’s later stages in life. One way to make the move to hospice care easier is to ensure that all your questions and concerns are addressed, making the decision an empowered one.
End of life care often translates to physical maintenance of the aging body, however, as a caregiver, you understand that so much more occurs in the day-to-day of your loved one than mobility and medications. One of the most important tips for choosing the right hospice facility is looking for a team that offers a wide variety of support options for your loved one, including physical, emotional, and spiritual care. You may also want to give preference to a facility that extends these modes of support to family members as well.
Moving your loved one to a facility or inviting hospice team members into your home to be cared for by new people is easier when you have complete confidence in the team. In your research period, look for specific certifications that fit your loved one’s illnesses or needs such as caring for patients with Alzheimer’s, heart disease, or PTSD.
Caregivers might also want to ask the facility about experience with their loved one’s specific race, religion, orientation, or identity to ensure that the totality of their loved one’s needs can be met with empathy and respect.
When interacting with a hospice care facility, pay attention to how well they communicate with you, your family, and your loved one. Willingness to answer questions, openness about the realities of hospice care, and an empathetic attitude are all things to look for in a hospice care team.
You will also want to pay attention to the specific language used by the team members, as a facility that puts an emphasis on things like quality of life for their patients likely takes a more human-first, compassionate approach.
Once you’ve found a facility that you feel confident in, ask about a tour or virtual visit that gives you and your loved one a chance to get more familiar with the new setting and the new team. The right facility will do everything they can to reasonably accommodate the needs of your family, whether their team will be coming into your home to assist you or if your family will be visiting your loved one in their facility.
