Some of the decisions that you make for your loved one along your caregiving journey are pretty cut and dry. Others, such as figuring out when it’s time for hospice care, are a little more nebulous.

Set up a Time to Talk with Family Members

There may be more family members than just you and your loved one who are involved in making this decision. For that reason, it’s a good idea to figure out when and where you can all get together to talk about the possibility of making this change. You’ll want to make the time for this family discussion sooner rather than later, so be sure to impress that on your other family members.

Make Sure Everyone Has Information about Hospice Care

Before the meeting, make sure that you put together some links or articles about hospice care for your family members. Give them plenty of time to look over the information and encourage them to write down any questions they may have. This enables you to answer as many questions as you can in the time that you have together.

Talk to Your Loved One’s Doctor

It’s also a good idea to talk to your loved one’s medical providers before you have this family meeting. Your loved one’s doctor can give you information about her prognosis and about whether her symptoms or her health conditions have reached a point that further treatment may not be as helpful as you’d like. In some cases, the benefits of the treatment aren’t as positive as they were and the side effects of the treatment are more difficult to manage.

Talk to Your Loved One

If it’s possible at all, talk to your loved one about the issue. Your loved one may be tired of being hospitalized or visiting the emergency room, for example. Those are valid reasons for considering hospice care and can be a tipping point for you and your family members as you discuss your options for your loved one.

There’s no definitive “right” time for hospice for your loved one. Once you have the full picture, you can make an educated decision about moving to this type of care.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hospice care in Upper Darby, PA, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (215) 867-5405.