As you or your loved one with cancer prepares for the final stages of life, you are anticipating the next steps. It’s time to think about where you or your loved one will stay as they prepare to pass on. Although this is not an easy time, it’s important that the quality of care received is sufficient. As time draws near, consider hospice care for cancer patients.
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a type of care provided for people that have a short time to live, (usually six months or less). There is care provided for the patient. However, the care provided isn’t standard medical attention, as patients that are admitted to hospice care are on the verge of passing away. The care is provided at a level of understanding that the patient will not be living much longer. The attention given is more focused with the patient’s specific condition in mind. For a patient that has cancer, it would be best to choose a center that has hospice care for cancer patients.
What are the Benefits of Hospice Care for Cancer Patients?
During this difficult time, it may seem like there is little to no hope for the patient. Although the options may have expended in terms of life-saving measures, there are still options to ensure that you or your loved one experience the best possible life. Consider this as we go through the many benefits to receiving hospice care.
1. Improved Quality of Life
As a cancer patient, you or your loved one has experienced multiple visits to the hospital or oncologist. These frequent visits can be exhausting, both physically and emotionally. By staying in hospice care, there’s no longer the need to make frequent visits back and forth. There’s now personalized care and nurse assistance for you or your loved one, without more tiresome visits. Improved quality of life is a tremendous benefit of choosing hospice care.
2. Well-Trained Staff
No two medical centers are alike, and the type of care a patient receives will vary. However, at a hospice care facility, you can be certain that the staff will know how to handle your unique situation. The professionals at a hospice center are trained to care for patients that have a short life expectancy and are suffering from a terminal illness. One great benefit to receiving hospice care is having staff like doctors, nurses, caregivers, and other medical professionals that know what to do to make sure you or your loved one is at ease during this difficult time.
3. Relief from Pain
Cancer is a very painful condition, and patients can expect their pain to increase with each stage of cancer. By the time treatment is no longer an option, the pain from cancer can be brutal for those suffering. It’s important that the patient’s remaining days are as painless as possible. Relief from pain is another amazing benefit of hospice care for cancer patients. Staying at a hospice facility gives the patient access to medical specialists that are there regularly to ensure pain is reduced and that the patient is at ease, physically.
4. Emotional Ease
Dealing with the fact that a loved one has cancer takes a toll on the cancer victim and the family. For some, there are questions on top of more questions as to what should be done day-by-day. With hospice care, you’ll have staff like doctors, nurses, financial planners and more, who are there to answer your questions and ease some of the worry that comes from this devastating time. Emotional ease is a great benefit to consider when deciding on hospice care.
5. Spiritual Support
If you or your loved one has religious or spiritual beliefs, know that most hospice care centers have a team of clergymen/women and counselors to provide spiritual comfort to the patient and their family. Spiritual support is a wonderful benefit you’ll find under hospice care for cancer patients. This is a service you won’t get at any and every medical center. That said, it can be reassuring knowing that this time won’t be one where the patient will have someone by their side that knows their spiritual concerns and can provide the right answers to their questions.
Contact a Hospice Care Provider
Preparing for one’s passing, especially due to something as devastating as cancer can be difficult. However, you and your family can have some semblance of comfort knowing that you or your loved one will pass away at a place of care, should you decide to choose hospice care. Knowing the benefits that come with receiving care under hospice, we strongly encourage you to consider it as one of the best options for people with low life expectancy.
We hope this article gave you some clarity about how to proceed as you consider hospice care options for your loved one. Should you have any other questions, you can speak to a representative at Harbor Light Hospice. Learn more online or contact us today to find a location near you.
