Support for Home Care at the End of Life There is no right place to die, but we can help those who want to die in the comfort of their own homes. In the past dying in the hospital at the end of life was normal, but these days many patients are choosing go home at the end of life. There are many options to end of life care and there are different facilities that patient’s live at long-term. Some of these places include nursing facilities, assisted living homes, independent living or even in their own homes. Health care has come a long way, and is not limited to just receiving care in a hospital setting. The purpose of this paper is to explain why we should support Home Care at the End of Life. Giving patient’s the support they need at the
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This can be a very difficult time for both the patient and the family. A study in the USA of older persons’ preferences for site of terminal care showed that 48% of participants preferred to die in the hospital compared to 43% who preferred to do in the home (Palliative Medicine, 2004). The participants in the study who preferred to stay in the hospital were concerned with the ability of their families to provide proper care for them in the home (Palliative Medicine, 2004). These participants were concerned that family members did not have formal training to care for someone at the end of life, which would make the care inadequate. Those who preferred care in the home opted for this option because they felt more at ease that the patient would be in a place of comfort and surrounded by loved ones, compared to being in a facility where strangers would care for their loved ones(Palliative Medicine, 2004). Death is frightening, whether it is a patient or the patient’s family, but there is hospice care in the home that can help both the patient and the family during this time. Hospice shows compassion to those dying, but in order to have Hospice care a patient must have a life expectancy of less than 6 months. Hospice care involves pain and symptom relief, it does not involve curative care. Hospice in the home can help patients live their last days in a comfortable, familiar environment and can
This can be a very difficult time for both the patient and the family. A study in the USA of older persons’ preferences for site of terminal care showed that 48% of participants preferred to die in the hospital compared to 43% who preferred to do in the home (Palliative Medicine, 2004). The participants in the study who preferred to stay in the hospital were concerned with the ability of their families to provide proper care for them in the home (Palliative Medicine, 2004). These participants were concerned that family members did not have formal training to care for someone at the end of life, which would make the care inadequate. Those who preferred care in the home opted for this option because they felt more at ease that the patient would be in a place of comfort and surrounded by loved ones, compared to being in a facility where strangers would care for their loved ones(Palliative Medicine, 2004). Death is frightening, whether it is a patient or the patient’s family, but there is hospice care in the home that can help both the patient and the family during this time. Hospice shows compassion to those dying, but in order to have Hospice care a patient must have a life expectancy of less than 6 months. Hospice care involves pain and symptom relief, it does not involve curative care. Hospice in the home can help patients live their last days in a comfortable, familiar environment and can