Hospice care seems like an almost saintly concept as people tend to patients who need end-of-life care. Yet there are limits to what kind of care hospice services can provide and that is where home care fills the gap.
In many cases, it is expected when someone signs up for hospice that they will get 24/7 care, but hospices do not provide that care unless it is a very close to the end-of-life situation.
These non-medical services for hospice patients and their families might include bathing, repositioning, and incontinence care for the patient and also family support. Alongside them, non-medical in-home care services may include supporting the families with companionship, preparing meals for the family, running errands, and other tasks so that someone might just stay with their loved one.
A person typically receives hospice care when a doctor has diagnosed them with six months or less to live due to illness. Yet there are instances when a person may live for another two years and be receiving some hospice care.
Sometimes when a person is dying, their family might prefer to maintain the same boundaries and relationship they had with their loved one rather than suddenly be providing intimate personal care. The family may feel overwhelmed and need support while they get used to their new roles as caregiving needs are determined. During this transition, family members might learn more about caregiving and hospice so that they can take on new roles.
People take on a lot out of love and respect and then find they have overcommitted themselves and realize they are exhausted, so that means they don't get support until they are in crisis. Even so, they have to take care of themselves and be more available and be more present with that person who is receiving hospice care.
In contrast, hospice care is there to provide emotional, spiritual, bereavement and medical support for families, but not to run personal errands or sleepover.
A person does not have to be in hospice to receive 24/7 services from an in-home care agency.