Even 50 years ago, it was common for people to pass away at home, surrounded by loved and familiar faces and possessions.

But now, most people spend their last days in hospitals or other institutions, surrounded by tubes and monitors and other technological equipment. Hospice care seeks to take death out of this institutional setting and relocate it as a natural, if difficult, part of life.

Hospice Can Provide Training, Respite Care 

The families who have been supported by a hospice program in caring for their dying loved ones almost universally consider it a positive, empowering experience. Hospice team members are trained to be sensitive to the needs of patient and family. If a loved one wants to die at home, and you wish to support him or her in this, but are worried whether you can provide the needed care, hospice will give both training and emotional support.

Hospice programs also offer the option of respite care. Respite care is having someone else care for your loved one for a few hours or a few days so that you can have a break. It provides much needed time for rest and renewal. Sometimes, caring for a dying friend or relative seems an overwhelming task; hospice care works to make it manageable.

Becoming a Caregiver: How to Decide

Clearly, if your friend or relative makes a choice for hospice care, and you are involved as a primary caregiver, the experience will have a significant impact on your life. It will be both physically and emotionally draining. However, it can also be deeply satisfying for you both. If you might be involved in a caregiving role in a hospice setting:

• Talk with Hospice personnel.
• Find out what the expectations are of you and exactly what kind of help is available.
• Talk with persons who have cared for a parent or other relative or friend with Hospice support and find out how they experienced that relationship.

Becoming a caregiver is a major commitment. Hospice care is not for everyone. However, for those who choose it, it can provide compassionate, sustaining care for the dying and their families. It is an option well worth considering. Take time to make a good decision for yourself.