Remembering Who Hospice Caregivers Are and Why They Matter

What those of us who have contact with the world of hospice care already know, and what recent studies confirm, is that hospice care is an invaluable resource for both patients and caregivers. 

It has a significant, positive impact in several key ways:

• Better management of symptoms

• Reduced emergency room and hospital visits

• Lower medical care costs

• Increased satisfaction with care

• An enhanced ability to handle grief and end of life matters

What’s more, it’s the “non-professional” caregivers—the family and friends of the patients—who are often the unsung heroes of hospice care. When their loved one enters hospice care, they are often thrown into an essential support role without training, preparation, or time to even think. They take on this role, and often have to rearrange their entire lives around it, while at the same time coming to grips with the reality that someone who is very dear to them is approaching the end of life.

Death and dying are some of the most difficult things in life to face, and it’s often a very different experience than people have to come to expect from what they see in movies and TV. Sharing knowledge and support with these family members and friends is a very special duty that we consider an important (you could even say sacred) aspect of our job as trained hospice nurses, care providers, and workers. 

We have spent a great deal of time immersed in matters of illness, death and the dying process, and the impact on family. This experience is extremely useful in helping the family and friends of the hospice patient navigate their particular circumstances. We can help assuage their anxiety and uncertainty as well as provide the kind of specialized care and symptom management that will help lift the burden off them so they can continue to function as emotional and social support for their ailing loved one. 

If you are taking your first steps into the realm of hospice care and caregiving for a relative or loved one, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for guidance and support. We are here for you and are happy to provide resources and a listening ear.