When you start thinking about hospice care services, you might find that you freeze up a bit. It’s a big decision and there’s so much that could be pulling you in one direction or the other about this topic. One of the first things to do is to start gathering information. From there you can put what you learn into action.

Your Senior’s Doctor Is Probably the Best First Source

Hospice has rules and qualifications that your senior needs to meet, to at least a certain extent. It’s best if you’re considering hospice care that you open up a dialogue with your senior’s doctor. Her doctor can help you to determine if your senior meets the qualifications and what else needs to be done to get her the help that will make the biggest difference for her.

There’s More to It

But there’s more to it than just your senior’s doctor saying it’s a good idea. There the emotional impacts of relying on hospice, both for your senior and for other family members. There are a lot of misunderstandings about end-of-life care and what it’s designed to do for your senior. You may have to educate some family members and your senior about what’s going to happen.

What Support Does Your Senior Need?

A big consideration to keep in mind is what types of support your elderly family member needs right now. If she’s still convinced that curative therapies are the way for her to go, then hospice care might not be the best option for her. But if she’s leaning on other ideas for keeping up with her symptoms and remaining comfortable, then another type of care is likely going to make sense for her.

Quality of Life Is Most Important

The most important thing to remember is probably that your senior’s quality of life is what’s really driving everything. This portion of her life is a critical one and she only has so much energy and time to spend on doing what she wants to do. Hospice care can help you to determine what treatments, therapies, and plans are going to work best for her situation.

There’s a lot to sort through when it comes to making this decision. If your elderly family member is still able to talk with you about her preferences, ask her what she wants to do. It’s important to keep as many options open as possible.

If you or an aging parent is considering hospice care in Bethlehem, PA, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (215) 867-5405.