Navigating Hospice Care: Emotional Support and End-of-Life Planning for Families
The Deadbook is partnered with Care Hospice on this blog post to showcase how end of life planning helps when it comes to having a loved one in hospice and how to go about end of life planning conversations at the time. In reality, most people will have these conversations long before their loved ones move to hospice.
When your loved one begins hospice care, a whirlwind of emotions can surface, making it a challenging time. Hospice care aims to provide compassionate support for your loved one as they approach the end of life, while also extending care to the entire family for 13 months following their passing. Understanding that family can be defined in many ways, hospice care embraces all those who are close to the patient, beyond just biological relationships.
While your loved one is receiving hospice care, it's a good time to have the conversations about end-of-life care, funeral arrangements, and your loved one’s final wishes if you have yet to have those conversations. Ideally, those conversations and planning will take place long before your loved one moves to hospice.
In addition to using The Deadbook as a resource, hospice staff can assist you in navigating those choices and honoring your loved one’s decisions. There may be opportunities for you and your loved one to reflect on past memories, create new ones, and preserve their legacy for the future. It can also be a helpful time to make sure your loved one’s affairs are in order and everyone has the needed information for future decisions.
Talking about your loved one’s final wishes can be uncomfortable. But those conversations will also enable you to ensure that your loved one is cared for and remembered in the ways they want. A specific type of burial, a music choice at a memorial service, and other special touches can all be helpful ways to cherish your loved one.
When your loved one dies, the pain of grief can feel unbearable. The grieving process can be difficult. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Your hospice staff will be there to support you during the first year of your bereavement.
The days and weeks immediately following the death of your loved one may feel like a blur. Emotions, family responsibilities, financial records, phone calls, visits, and other details all add to the feeling of “too much.”
The Deadbook is proud to share that Care Hospice is a specialized grief resource for families.