Why On-Site Hospice Care Is a Crucial Safety Net for Families

As the end of life draws near, residents and their families have a lot on their minds. Coordinating necessary services and helping keep those who are terminally ill comfortable can take up time that families would rather spend with their loved one. On-site hospice care eases the burden on families and caregivers while helping the patient retain a sense of dignity throughout those final months, weeks or days.

Understanding On-Site Hospice Care

On-site hospice care is part of an ongoing continuum of care at Brightview Senior Living. Instead of having to transfer to a hospital or nursing home upon the diagnosis of a terminal illness, with on-site hospice care, residents can continue to enjoy the community they are used to while also getting top-notch end-of-life care. The care level simply increases as the resident's needs change. Staying in a place the resident already loves reduces stress. The consistency gives the terminal resident a sense of control and lets families relax knowing that their loved one is well cared for.

Hospice care doesn't just involve physical comfort. It also addresses emotional and spiritual needs. On-site hospice care ensures there's always someone available to talk to about issues surrounding illness and death.

Personalized Care in a Familiar Setting

When it becomes apparent that a loved one needs hospice care, family members often feel overwhelmed. If the terminally ill resident is already living in an assisted living community that offers on-site hospice care, such as Brightview Senior Living, many of the decisions they need to make are already handled. On-site doctors and nurses can deal with medication schedules so nothing is forgotten, and they have an ongoing relationship with the patient that makes it easy to identify any sudden changes in the resident's physical condition or emotional state.

The familiar staff also helps ease the transition from an active senior lifestyle to hospice care. On-staff doctors, nurses, counselors and social workers already know the resident well, and the familiar setting provides mental and emotional comfort. The resident might be more comfortable talking about the emotions surrounding end-of-life issues with familiar counselors, and friends made over the years in an assisted living community are nearby to help provide extra emotional support. Brightview Senior Living has a variety of care options available, so patients diagnosed with dementia, ALS, multiple sclerosis or any terminal illness get personalized, professional care tailored to their needs.

Transportation Costs

For seniors remaining alone in their own homes, transportation may become an expense to consider. This is especially true for older adults who can no longer drive themselves. In these cases, options for getting to appointments or social activities include asking friends and family for help, paying for public transportation or cabs/Uber rides or leveraging transportation assistance options for seniors.

And while savvy seniors in metro areas can often keep transportation costs very low, seniors in more suburban or rural areas don't always have the same options.

How On-Site Hospice Services Benefit Families

Caring for a terminally ill family member at home takes extraordinary effort, and many families simply don't have the time or energy to dedicate to the task. Hospital settings can feel impersonal, and dedicated nursing homes require a complicated move into an unfamiliar setting just at the time of life that's most stressful for everyone in the family.

Seniors living in an assisted living community with on-site hospice services don't need to worry about any of that. Family members can continue to visit their terminally ill relative at the same place and rely on the staff they've already come to know well to care for their loved one's increased needs. When long-term care planning includes both active senior living and end-of-life hospice care, there's no uncertainty about the future.

Speaking With Families About Hospice Care

Families considering assisted living often aren't thinking about hospice care yet. Their concerns often center around finding a place that supports a vibrant, active senior lifestyle and takes care of everyday needs for residents. Professional health care providers may need to point out the importance of thinking about hospice care long before it becomes necessary.

Waiting to decide on hospice care could leave family members in a situation where they need to quickly transfer the patient after a diagnosis if appropriate care isn't available at the existing assisted living community. Encouraging families to seek out assisted living communities that offer on-site hospice care helps provide a safety net in case of a later terminal diagnosis.

If you're working with anyone considering assisted living communities, remind them to think about hospice care as well as part of potential future planning. Search for a Brightview Senior Living Community with extended assisted living care, enhanced care, or memory care to ensure long-term support for specific diagnoses.