Does It Matter Which Hospice Center I Choose for My Loved One?
Important Factors to Keep in Mind When Selecting Hospice Care
You have many choices for hospice care in and around the Mesa area. When you look at the websites of providers, you may start to think that they are all the same. They may all seem equally legitimate, and they may all seem to have caring providers. However, appearances can be deceiving. Not all hospice providers are alike.
It absolutely matters which hospice center you choose for your loved one. Here are just a few of the many reasons why it makes a big difference what provider you choose:
Quality of Care
Even if hospice providers have the same training and education, there can be great variation in the quality of care they provide. Hospice care is entirely focused on preserving the quality of life in the final months of a person’s life, so any variation in quality of care can make a big difference to that person.
You need to spend time researching your options so that you find the best provider to ensure the best quality of life for your loved one possible. You may not be able to change much else about your loved one’s illness or condition, but you can make a difference in the quality of care they get.
Location
Most hospice providers can give care anywhere – in a patient’s home or in a care facility. But not all providers do this. Some are limited in where they offer care, such as in their own facility or only in certain locations.
If you hire a provider who can’t offer care where your loved one will feel most comfortable, that’s going to inhibit the quality of life in those final days. You must find a provider who will offer care wherever you need it to make those final days as best as they can be.
Financing
Hospice care is part of the Medicare benefit. Care that falls outside insurance coverage becomes an out-of-pocket cost or covered by supplementary insurance. That can include caregivers for custodial care or medicines that are unrelated to the hospice diagnosis. While you may be willing to pay any amount to ensure that your loved one is cared for and comfortable, you may not have the resources on hand to do so. The best hospice care providers will offer some financial resources options to help you fit the care you need into your budget.
Family Support
The end of life is emotionally taxing for everyone in the family. Many will struggle with spiritual issues, and others will have a hard time accepting what’s to come. Many will also struggle with the logistics of caring for a dying loved one, including managing schedules and coming up with the necessary financial resources.
Great hospice care providers offer support for the whole family during this time. The best providers offer family counseling, spiritual advising, stress relief, and even financial counseling. Some providers offer these services themselves through extended support staff, and some providers refer family members to community resources.
Ongoing Counseling
You don’t want to think about it, but the end will eventually come, and you will have to grieve your loved one. You will need all the support you can get during that time. The best hospice providers offer grief counseling for the whole family for as long as you need it. Some offer counseling for individuals, and some offer group counseling.
Your choice of hospice providers can make a huge difference, not only to your dying loved one, but to your whole family. It’s important that you thoroughly research your options to ensure that you are getting the best hospice provider that your family can afford. The right provider will protect your loved one’s quality of life and will offer your family ongoing support throughout the process.
Americare Hospice and Palliative Care is a trusted Mesa hospice care provider. Our compassionate aides offer in-home hospice care and inpatient hospice care. Though we are a Mesa Catholic hospice provider, we provide care to patients of all faiths. Our extensive services for the whole family include financial counseling, spiritual counseling, grief counseling, and stress relief. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your family and your loved one.
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1212 N. Spencer St., Suite #2
Mesa, Arizona 85203
Office: (480) 726-7773
Fax: (480) 726-7790
Email: info@americarehospice.org
