There are many diseases which when diagnosed with, can influence a person to take the support of hospice care. These diseases can include Alzheimer’s, Cancer, COPD, Cognitive heart failures, etc. You must customize the care for such diseases to the patient and the treatment plan must be very specific.
Palliative care involves a well-knit team of volunteers, nurses, social workers, home health aides whose aim is to make the patient comfortable and feel them as much as possible as in their own home. Before the commencement of the hospice or palliative care services, the place must be set up with the right strategy and planning so that the transition for the patient is smooth and seamless.
Follow these changes and modifications for the home of the patient so that the palliative care team can provide their services with the utmost effectiveness.
Bedroom
Most of the patients under hospice care will find it difficult to get in and out of a normal bed. In such situations, it is best to get a hospital bed. These beds are designed in a way to make it easy for the patient to get treatment without much exertion of energy. Also consider that the other medical equipment such as medicines, oxygen, bedside commode and all will be placed near the bed. If the bedroom is not large enough to accommodate these, consider shifting the bed to a larger room.
Get rid of hazards and obstacles
The home must be set in a way that both the caregivers and the patient can move around without any obstacles. Since there will be a constant movement of the caregivers to the patient, get rid of all hazards and obstacles such as tripping furniture, un-necessary rugs, etc. You can enhance the comfort of moving around by installing night lamps and lamps so that the house is well-lit. If the home of the patient has a staircase, add a rail along with it so that it can be used for support while climbing.
Bathroom
Most of the time, the patient falls in the bathroom. Ensure that you pay more attention to this. Put in non – slip bath mats that can prevent the patient from slipping. Use raised toilet seats and shower chairs to increase the safety inside the bathroom. Sometimes, patients may need to bring special medical equipment into the bathroom, so ensure that any barriers are removed and there is enough space.
Organize the Care
Palliative care involves a lot of people involved, such as the volunteers, social workers, nurses, etc. who will keep moving in and out of the home for the care. So, it is suggested to keep a care folder which should include the details of all doctors, medications, emergency contacts and medical records. If the patient has some needs which have to be met daily, then mention the same.
Comfort Items
The main purpose of hospice care is that it provides maximum comfort to the patient. So, ensure that by using the favourite blanket, or chair or TV of the patient. The home while being conducive for the treatment of the patient must also provide a feeling of peace and normalcy.
So, these are the different ways in which you can set up the home for hospice care. Remember, the goal is to provide maximum comfort to the patient and ensuring efficient treatment consistently. Each member of the team needs to work at their full potential to fulfil their duties and meet the needs of the patient as much as possible. Provide as much relief as possible to the patient.