When I was just starting out writing about a senior’s life, I had no idea that there will be several housing options for seniors. Some I just got to know while doing research but some I experienced personally by helping my friends move their aging parents—some friends I even arranged for moving in a temporary housing after an ailment. I know the emotional turmoil that comes with it, that is for both the mover and the one to be moved. First, it is not easy to live in an unfamiliar territory. It’s like transferring school all over again—only, you are too old to rebel against your parents (that is, if they are still alive today) On the other hand, the mover may feel guilty about moving the senior at all since it may indicate the inability to personally care for the senior.
It is always good to remember that care facilities are not there to accept seniors thrown away by lazy and selfish caregivers. On the contrary, a good caregiver will know when it’s time for the senior to receive medical help from professionals especially if the caregiver doesn’t have any healthcare background at all. At some point, your senior will require round-the-clock monitoring which can be stressful for a lone caregiver. Overtime, caregiving tasks will get so demanding, you’ll need a pair of helping hands—not to mention, emotionally straining for both of you.
However, for those nearing end-of-life seniors, they will need an altogether different living settings. Instead of therapies, they will be given all the comfort they need—and happiness, if possible. Hospice care takes a different approach as compared to other care facilities for seniors and it is designed for end-of-life seniors, those who no longer have hope of getting well. They usually take a holistic approach—rather than focusing only on the senior’s physical well-being, they see to it that their spiritual, mental and emotional states are taken cared of as well. Not only that, a hospice team supports the senior’s family and loved-ones by giving free counseling to those who might be needing it. Most of the time, it proves to be essential for the loved-ones to be able to move on after death.
Hospice care will involve a hospice team. When you say “hospice team”, it means a group of people who understands the needs of a senior nearing end-of-life. A hospice team is composed of doctors, nurses, counselors, and volunteers. As a program, a hospice team can care for your senior without having to move them to another care facility. The program involves round the clock care for the elderly or patient, support for the family, therapies needed by the patient, medical coordination between the patient and their healthcare provider, as well as pain management if the patient needs it. Usually, they also help the family organize necessary documents the patient may need before, during and after the program.
