No one wants to face the fact that they are dying, and it’s almost as bad to discover that a loved one is nearing the end. People in both situations are frightened of what’s going to happen, frightened for what their loved ones are facing, and frightened of a future that has just become very dark. A hospice, and those extra-caring individuals who work there, want to give everyone involved all the comfort and support they need to get through this trying time. It takes a special kind of person to become a hospice worker, because it’s hard knowing how to ease the dying out of life and the living out of emotional pain and fear, but these dedicated folks provide the comfort that everyone needs.

Most hospice care was originally given to people who had been placed in hospice care in arcadia  nursing facilities as they were dying. This was a double-hardship on their families. Not only were the patients strongly opposed to dying anywhere except in their own homes which caused loved ones heartache when forced to place them elsewhere, but by doing so they were sacrificing a lot of time that they could be spending with that person. After all, institutions all have enforced visiting hours which limit the time that patients can spend with others.

Now home hospice care is available in order to remove these problems from the patient’s last days. The person can stay in the comfortable surroundings of their own home and have a hospice caregiver spend time with them while their families are working or otherwise occupied. Everyone involved will benefit, including any young children who can be frightened in a care facility setting. The concept of death is difficult and scary for children to grasp, especially if it is a beloved grandparent or parent. The question is whether having the person die in their home might generate more fear in a child regarding their own home, however.

In home hospice care is meeting the challenges and needs of our present generation of seniors and their offspring. This type of care is a less expensive option than long-term hospital or nursing facility care, and it offers the patient more comfort and solace in the bargain. Dying slowly of a terminal illness is stressful on the entire family, so having the support of an outside caregiver who has been trained to deal with just this type of a situation can be a godsend.