Hospice and the Holidays

The holidays are a busy time of year as family and friends gather together to celebrate. There are tons of activities to do and plenty of parties and family dinners to plan as the year comes to a close. For many people faced with choosing hospice for their terminally ill loved ones, the big question is whether they should start hospice before or after the frenzy of the holidays. In truth, the hospice care team is here to help you and your loved one from getting the process started easily to reducing stress with everyday assistance. Here’s what you should know about hospice and the holidays. 

Help at Home with Hospice and the Holidays 

If you’re unfamiliar with hospice care, you may wonder when, where, and how often care is provided to the patient. Routine hospice care is provided in the patient’s residence, which might be their home, a nursing or assisted living facility, or a relative’s home. The patient’s care team creates a customized care plan that works best for them. The care provided is fully coordinated with the patient’s regular physician ensuring they receive proper medications and comprehensive services as needed.

Hospice given during the holidays is the same compassionate care that is provided at any time of the year. Experienced hospice nurses help to manage symptoms while making the patient as comfortable as possible. Care members will also help with meal prep, grooming and bathing, light housework, and other tasks of daily living. The patient will receive a range of services as needed from physicians, nurses, therapists, nutritionists, bereavement counselors, social workers, and others.

Hospice and the Holidays Means Less Stress

The holidays set the stage for a lot of expectations from family members. Coordinating get-togethers takes a lot of planning, prep work, cleaning, shopping, and cooking. There are so many events and details to work out, it can leave family members feeling stressed. Having a loved one who is diagnosed with a terminal illness can easily add to the stress of the season. Hospice during the holidays can seem like the answer to a prayer because it takes a huge burden off a family member’s shoulders.

Unexpected Hospice Care and the Holidays

Those who are diagnosed with a terminal illness can and do have sudden changes in their condition and medical emergencies. That means they might need round the clock continuous care, in-patient hospice care in a hospice facility, or a trip to the emergency room. Routine hospice care at home means your loved one will have less chances of needing to be rushed to the emergency room because hospice care team members closely monitor the patient's condition. 

When intense care is needed for the patient, hospice team members are available for periods of up to 24 hours a day. That means you can rest easy knowing your loved one is well taken care of. You will be free to continue your holiday plans and can adjust as you want to make time for visiting with your loved one.

The holidays and hospice are a combination that can help you enjoy the last days with your loved one. For family members of the terminally ill, there are difficult feelings about the idea that this may be the last holiday season with their loved one. Sometimes the holiday cheer that everyone longs for is replaced by feelings of grief and sadness. During the holidays, hospice and social workers give the family and the patient access to much needed grief and bereavement counseling, as well as spiritual support.

What to Expect With Hospice and the Holidays

Many industries take breaks during the holiday season, but members of your hospice team will always be available. A & H Hospice has a physician on duty 24 hours a day and our hospice nurses have rapid response rates, aiming to respond to calls within 24 hours of receiving them. Along with exceptional and compassionate care, the patient will have access to medication delivery, diagnostic and laboratory services, as well as medical supplies. Some examples of the supplies we provide include wheelchairs, hospital beds, wound care supplies, oxygen and oxygen delivery equipment, bedside commodes, and more as necessary.

Respite Hospice Care and the Holidays

Even with the help of daily routine hospice care, it’s easy for caregivers to get burnt out. Towards the end of the final stages of life, more intense care is needed which can lead to fatigue, sleep deprivation, mental instability, and other symptoms of caregiver burnout. Respite hospice care is when your loved one is temporarily moved to a hospice facility so they can be cared for 24/7. Respite care gives the primary caregiver a chance to relax and revitalize themselves. Respice hospice and the holidays also go hand-in-hand because this special level of care can be used for up to five days per benefit period for family members to travel to see other family and friends.

Starting Hospice in Southern California

Don’t delay in making the decision to start hospice before and during the holidays. Shortly after hospice services begin, you’ll see for yourself how each team member’s hospice specialty provides relief in the big picture. From CNAs who take the burden out of daily tasks of living, to nurses who administer precious symptom relieving medications, to physicians who advise the best next steps, to the counselors who strengthen the glue that keeps a family together, every team member is important to improving patients’ quality of life.

We’ll help you through the entire set up process and connect you with financial resources if needed. For patients with MediCal and MediCare, hospice is fully covered with no out-of-pocket costs. We serve the areas of Los Angeles County, Orange County, and surrounding counties. Contact one of our team members today for a free consultation.