When you have a loved one who is elderly or terminally ill, you may find yourself wondering about the different types of care and services that are available to your loved one. And while you may have heard of hospice care in the past, you may not be completely sure of what hospice care entails and how it can help you, your family, and your loved one. Get to know more about the services that hospice care provides and the way that such a care service can help with your loved one's current condition.

Hospice Caregivers Help With Medical Needs And Monitoring

Many people who are elderly and/or terminally ill do not want to spend their lives in hospitals, nursing homes, or other medical facilities. They prefer the familiarity and the comfort of their own homes.

Hospice caregivers can help to ensure that your loved one not only gets to be comfortable in their own home, but that they also receive the medical care and treatments that they need. If your loved one requires an IV for pain medication, fluids, or even for their food, a hospice nurse can change IV bags as needed, place the IV, and monitor the system.

They can also administer medications, change wound dressings, deal with colostomies and catheters, and monitor vital signs. All of the maintenance medical care that your loved one needs can be provided by hospice nurses and certified nursing assistance.

Hospice Care Provides A More Holistic Care Program

While medical care is one of the main components of the hospice care experience, hospice is so much more than that. The idea of hospice is actually to provide holistic care to their clients and the family of their clients.

This includes providing companionship to your loved one when family members may not be able to be there, as well as companionship for you and your family members. Hospice caregivers can also help clean up around the house, prepare meals for your loved one, read or play games with them or with family members, and provide emotional support when needed.

Hospice programs can also include spiritual support and will strive to provide you with as much or as little assistance as you and your loved one see fit. These programs aim to provide care and comfort to everyone, from the client to their friends and family, to make the experience easier on everyone involved.

Now that you know a little bit more about hospice care, you can better decide if this is the right care option for your elderly or terminally ill loved one. Visit a site like http://www.carolinaeast.org for more information.