Navigating end-of-life care can be overwhelming—there’s so much to think about and it’s completely natural to have a lot of questions. Choosing to receive hospice care at home is one way to ensure you or your loved one spends this time as comfortably as possible, in a familiar space and surrounded by family.
Whether you’re facing a need for hospice care for yourself or looking into options for a loved one, learning more about in-home hospice care can help you make the choice that’s right for your family.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a special type of medical care designed to support someone who has a terminal illness, typically with a life expectancy of about six months or less. Instead of treatments aimed at curing the illness, hospice care is all about comfort, managing pain, and supporting emotional and spiritual well-being.
While there are hospice care facilities with dedicated medical staff, that’s not your only option. This kind of care can also be provided at home.
Understanding Home Hospice Care
The beauty of home hospice care is that you get to stay in your own home where you feel most comfortable – all while receiving the same quality hospice care you would access in a facility.
With in-home hospice services, a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and other professionals help manage pain and symptoms, support emotional and spiritual needs, and provide assistance to family caregivers.
At Navigate Wellness, for example, our team of concierge nurses and care navigators help ensure our Columbia, MO home hospice services are as proactive as possible. We aim to help our patients live comfortably, with dignity, and surrounded by loved ones.
Achieving these goals is often easier when hospice care is provided at home, which can be incredibly helpful for both the patient and their loved ones.
What Services Does Home Hospice Care Include?
With hospice at home, you and your family get support from a caring team of professionals. You may work with concierge nurses, home health aides and other healthcare providers.
Here’s what in-home hospice care typically provides:
- Pain and Symptom Management: Helping manage pain and other symptoms to keep you as comfortable as possible.
- Personal Care: Assisting with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, and eating, so you can maintain dignity and feel at ease.
- Medical Equipment and Supplies: Providing things like hospital beds, oxygen tanks, and necessary medications.
- Emotional and Spiritual Support: Offering counseling, emotional comfort, or spiritual care that aligns with your beliefs and values.
- Respite Care: Giving family caregivers a break when needed, so they can rest and recharge.
How Does Hospice Care at Home Work?
Home hospice care is a proactive, collaborative effort between medical professionals, caregivers, and family members.
Because hospice requires teamwork among a variety of people, it is especially helpful to work with an in-home provider who can help manage the team, ensure all providers are communicating and help you navigate your care options.
That’s where Navigate Wellness comes in for our Missouri home hospice patients. When hospice care begins, we help ensure you have:
- A Customized Plan: A personalized plan made just for you, focusing on managing symptoms and providing emotional comfort.
- Supportive Hospice Team: A caring group including nurses, doctors, aides, social workers, and spiritual counselors regularly checking in.
- Necessary Equipment & Medications: Everything needed to keep you or your loved one comfortable at home, which may include a hospital-grade bed, pain medications, mobile IV infusions, health monitors and more.
- Family Support: Education, guidance, and emotional support for your family caregivers.
- 24/7 Care Availability: The best at-home hospice nurses are always just a call away, day or night.
How Do You Pay for Hospice Care at Home?
Understanding the financial aspects of hospice care is vital, especially if you’re considering home hospice care.
While many hospice facilities can be paid with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, some aspects of home hospice care may not be covered.
At Navigate Wellness, for example, we do not accept insurance and are private pay only, keeping our services as affordable as possible. Without insurance involved, our concierge nurses can give you more choices and freedom over your home hospice care.
At the same time, our care managers can help negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, advocating for you and ensuring that as much of your hospice care is covered as possible.
Understanding Home Hospice vs. Hospice Facility
Deciding between home hospice care and a hospice facility depends on a variety of factors, including the patient’s medical condition, level of family support, and personal preferences.
Each option has its own benefits, and understanding the differences can help you make the best choice for your family.
Location and Setting
Home hospice care allows patients to remain in a familiar and comfortable environment, surrounded by loved ones. This setting can provide a sense of peace and security, reducing stress during the final stages of life.
On the other hand, a hospice facility offers care in a dedicated setting such as a hospice center, hospital, or nursing home, where professional medical staff are present 24/7.
Family Involvement and Caregiving
One of the biggest differences between home hospice and a hospice facility is the role of family members.
Hospice facilities have round-the-clock professional staff who handle all aspects of patient care, relieving families of caregiving responsibilities.
With home hospice care, on the other hand, family members may be responsible for much of the day-to-day support, including personal care, medication management, and emotional comfort. This can come with challenges but also ensures patients are surrounded by loved ones during this important time.
By working with a skilled team of concierge nurses at home, you can have the best of both worlds, providing comforting care while also getting key support for family caregivers.
Medical Support and Resources
Patients receiving home hospice care benefit from regular visits by nurses, aides, and other hospice team members. These professionals assess the patient’s condition, manage symptoms, and provide necessary medical equipment like hospital beds or oxygen tanks.
If a patient requires more intensive care or experiences a sudden medical crisis, a hospice facility ensures doctors, nurses, and support staff are available at all times, ensuring immediate medical attention when needed.
Who Is Home Hospice Right For?
Home hospice can be a comforting choice if:
- You’re facing a terminal illness and prefer focusing on comfort.
- You want to remain at home with loved ones.
- You have family or caregivers available to help with daily care.
- Symptoms can be effectively managed at home with occasional professional visits.
How Navigate Wellness Can Help with Hospice Care at Home
At Navigate Wellness, we understand just how important end-of-life decisions are. Our compassionate nursing team in Columbia, Missouri, is here to support you through personalized hospice care at home, ensuring comfort, dignity, and peace.
If you’re considering hospice care at home or just need someone to answer your questions and offer reassurance, contact Navigate Wellness today. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
