What You Need to Know to Care for a Seriously Ill Person at Home, Heartbeat Episode 245

It can be a challenge to care for someone you love at home during a serious illness.  We’ve got some tips to help you to do it successfully.  There are a lot of things to consider - finances, wellness of the caregiver, acuity of the patient, and safety of the home are just some of the items that need to be discussed before someone takes on the caregiving responsibility.  A lone caregiver will need help, so it’s crucial to gather a group of people to manage caregiving tasks.  Caregiving should never be a one person job. (Hint - this is where your hospice team can help!) There’s also an emotional burden attached to caring for a loved one at home and experiencing a death in that space.  The benefits to having care at home include control of the physical environment, who comes to visit, management of noise, and the familiarity of a home environment.  Not every patient can be cared for safely at home.  Talk with your hospice care team about whether home will be the best place for you or your loved one. Connect with Helen or Jerry from The Heart of Hospice podcast with questions by sending an email to [email protected].  We’re here to support your end of life journey.  No matter where you are in your hospice journey, you are The Heart of Hospice.