South Bay and Beach Cities residents can have trouble navigating all the facets of healthcare, and hospice services are particularly confusing for many. Intended to provide comfort for patients and families alike, hospice care is robust and incredibly helpful for most. But it is not entirely comprehensive. Therefore, many will find it’s best supplemented by Torrance home care services that provide additional comfort and care for people in particularly sensitive situations.
Here are 7 ways a trusted Torrance home care agency can improve quality of care for hospice patients while easing burdens on family members.
1) Comfort Care – As some families and patients may know already, hospice is intended to provide comfort for people managing challenging diagnoses. And a well-matched home care agency can help achieve that goal. While hospice addresses medical needs, prescriptions, and medical equipment (hospital beds, supplies, etc.), caregiver companies provide an extra set of helping hands.
Families and patients should remember hospice nurses and staff are not typically standing bedside 24/7. Their visits are usually intermittent and often focus on providing wound care, changing catheters, monitoring medications, and other medical duties. However, a compassionate caregiver goes above and beyond by serving as a bedside assistant and can even be available day or night to address a variety of needs.
2) Peace of Mind – Patients often stay on hospice for weeks or months. Some have even “graduated” from hospice when their prognosis improves. Therefore, many families find they must carry on with daily life despite their loved one’s condition.
Work and school continue for most, and a compassionate caregiver can help support a loved one’s needs when family is away. The combination of competent hospice nurses and home care aides means people can know their loved one is in good hands at all times. And home care agencies with flexible scheduling options, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, allow families to supplement caregiver services as they see fit.
3) General Assistance – Hospice patients have needs beyond typical medical duties. There may be times when the patient or family member requires help with a load of laundry, changing of sheets, or light housekeeping. A professional caregiver can assist with these daily activities that may not necessarily be of a “medical” variety. It’s hard to predict any number of general needs that might arise, but a home care aide can usually help with the vast majority of them.
4) Communication – As previously stated, families must usually manage other day-to-day activities when monitoring a loved one on hospice care. Therefore, a professional caregiver can provide critical information on a patient’s condition when others are away from the home. The home care aide can also stand at the ready in case hospice personnel need to be called in for emergency situations.
Most home care agency caregivers, including those with BrightStar Care of Torrance, have smartphones with text messaging and email capabilities. If desired, they can communicate directly with family in real time. And per protocol, they always share critical updates with managing staff, which is then forwarded to family members at the office level.
5) Companionship – People sometimes group caregiver services under the umbrella of “assistance” or “personal care.” But the truth is a compassionate aide’s help can be nuanced and broad. And companionship is of tremendous value to many hospice patients and their families.
Some agencies, like BrightStar Care of Torrance, even try to match caregivers based on personalities, interests, and hobbies. Perhaps a loved one on hospice enjoys reading but can no longer do it herself. In that case, a well-matched aide can sit with her bedside and read from her favorite book. Or maybe the two both enjoy playing chess or checkers.
6) Accountability – A competent home care agency works hand-in-hand with hospice. And while the two organizations partner collaboratively toward achieving great quality of care, the accountability afforded by diversifying staff is helpful. Nurses from hospice and caregivers from home care agencies are known to give feedback regarding each other’s performance. Typically, the reviews are high on both accounts, but outside accountability is always a positive.
7) Respite – November is “National Family Caregivers Month” and with good reason. Family caregivers are unspoken heroes in our homes and communities. But their efforts can be quite taxing, and they are prone to stress and related health effects. Home care services provide “respite” (or relief) for those caring for loved ones on hospice.
There’s nothing selfish about taking a break, going out for dinner, or attending a yoga class for stress relief. As previously noted, some patients are on hospice for many weeks or months. Nobody should be expected to provide 24/7 bedside care for a loved one without breaks. And frankly, most hospice patients wouldn’t want that for their family caregiver either.
Big Picture - At the end of the day, people have a strong desire to be there for loved ones who begin hospice care. It’s only natural for families to want the best for each other and even more so in such a challenging situation. But that doesn’t mean outside help isn’t available or appropriate. Instead, a trusted home care agency caregiver works collaboratively with hospice nurses to provide additional comfort and peace of mind.
If you’re seeking South Bay home care services for a loved one, be sure to call BrightStar Care of Torrance today for a free registered nurse (RN) assessment!
Here are 7 ways a trusted Torrance home care agency can improve quality of care for hospice patients while easing burdens on family members.
1) Comfort Care – As some families and patients may know already, hospice is intended to provide comfort for people managing challenging diagnoses. And a well-matched home care agency can help achieve that goal. While hospice addresses medical needs, prescriptions, and medical equipment (hospital beds, supplies, etc.), caregiver companies provide an extra set of helping hands.
Families and patients should remember hospice nurses and staff are not typically standing bedside 24/7. Their visits are usually intermittent and often focus on providing wound care, changing catheters, monitoring medications, and other medical duties. However, a compassionate caregiver goes above and beyond by serving as a bedside assistant and can even be available day or night to address a variety of needs.
2) Peace of Mind – Patients often stay on hospice for weeks or months. Some have even “graduated” from hospice when their prognosis improves. Therefore, many families find they must carry on with daily life despite their loved one’s condition.
Work and school continue for most, and a compassionate caregiver can help support a loved one’s needs when family is away. The combination of competent hospice nurses and home care aides means people can know their loved one is in good hands at all times. And home care agencies with flexible scheduling options, such as BrightStar Care of Torrance, allow families to supplement caregiver services as they see fit.
3) General Assistance – Hospice patients have needs beyond typical medical duties. There may be times when the patient or family member requires help with a load of laundry, changing of sheets, or light housekeeping. A professional caregiver can assist with these daily activities that may not necessarily be of a “medical” variety. It’s hard to predict any number of general needs that might arise, but a home care aide can usually help with the vast majority of them.
4) Communication – As previously stated, families must usually manage other day-to-day activities when monitoring a loved one on hospice care. Therefore, a professional caregiver can provide critical information on a patient’s condition when others are away from the home. The home care aide can also stand at the ready in case hospice personnel need to be called in for emergency situations.
Most home care agency caregivers, including those with BrightStar Care of Torrance, have smartphones with text messaging and email capabilities. If desired, they can communicate directly with family in real time. And per protocol, they always share critical updates with managing staff, which is then forwarded to family members at the office level.
5) Companionship – People sometimes group caregiver services under the umbrella of “assistance” or “personal care.” But the truth is a compassionate aide’s help can be nuanced and broad. And companionship is of tremendous value to many hospice patients and their families.
Some agencies, like BrightStar Care of Torrance, even try to match caregivers based on personalities, interests, and hobbies. Perhaps a loved one on hospice enjoys reading but can no longer do it herself. In that case, a well-matched aide can sit with her bedside and read from her favorite book. Or maybe the two both enjoy playing chess or checkers.
6) Accountability – A competent home care agency works hand-in-hand with hospice. And while the two organizations partner collaboratively toward achieving great quality of care, the accountability afforded by diversifying staff is helpful. Nurses from hospice and caregivers from home care agencies are known to give feedback regarding each other’s performance. Typically, the reviews are high on both accounts, but outside accountability is always a positive.
7) Respite – November is “National Family Caregivers Month” and with good reason. Family caregivers are unspoken heroes in our homes and communities. But their efforts can be quite taxing, and they are prone to stress and related health effects. Home care services provide “respite” (or relief) for those caring for loved ones on hospice.
There’s nothing selfish about taking a break, going out for dinner, or attending a yoga class for stress relief. As previously noted, some patients are on hospice for many weeks or months. Nobody should be expected to provide 24/7 bedside care for a loved one without breaks. And frankly, most hospice patients wouldn’t want that for their family caregiver either.
Big Picture - At the end of the day, people have a strong desire to be there for loved ones who begin hospice care. It’s only natural for families to want the best for each other and even more so in such a challenging situation. But that doesn’t mean outside help isn’t available or appropriate. Instead, a trusted home care agency caregiver works collaboratively with hospice nurses to provide additional comfort and peace of mind.
If you’re seeking South Bay home care services for a loved one, be sure to call BrightStar Care of Torrance today for a free registered nurse (RN) assessment!