What are the Options for End of Life Care

The subject of end of life care can be a difficult thing to talk about, but as a caregiver, it’s important that you sit down with the person you’re caring for to discuss their wishes.

You want to make sure that they’re as comfortable as possible during their final days, and not stressed out or frightened by the circumstances of their palliative care.

In this video, we’ll explain some of the terminology surrounding end of life care, and help you understand the different options that are available.

Since the vocabulary surrounding end of life care can be a bit confusing, let’s take a moment to clear some things up.

Many people think that “palliative care” and “hospice care” are the same thing, but they’re not.

Both palliative care and hospice care provide comfort, but palliative care can begin much sooner than hospice care, starting as early as the first diagnosis and continuing throughout treatment.

Hospice care begins after treatment has been stopped and it is clear that the person is not going to survive their illness. Hospice care is typically offered only when the person is expected to live six months or less.

The terms “hospice care” and “end of life care can be used interchangeably, but there is a difference between “hospice care” and “hospice building”. Most people think of an institutional building when they think of hospice, but hospice care can also be provided at home, in a hospital, or at a long-term care facility.

Now that you understand some of the terminologies, let’s talk about the different options for end of life care.

The preferred option for most people is to receive end of life care in their own home, or in the home of a caregiver.

There are a variety of home care programs available that offer professional nursing support and 24-hour response teams to help with urgent needs. They can also provide any medical equipment that might be required, such as a hospital bed or an oxygen tank.

Being at home can help the person you’re caring for maintain a sense of normalcy, and will allow them to feel like they have more freedom to make choices.

Hospice care at home can sometimes be overwhelming for caregivers though, and depending on the person’s needs it may not always be practical.

The hospital is another option for end of life care. Many hospitals either have dedicated palliative care units or set aside a certain number of beds for patients needing palliative care.

The benefit of receiving end of life care in a hospital is that there will be an experienced team of palliative care specialists on hand to supervise treatment, and you won’t have to worry about things like renting medical equipment or administering pain medication.

The downside of hospital care is that some people find hospitals scary or impersonal, and the environment will not be as comforting as it would be at home.

However, it’s possible that the person you’re caring for may prefer to receive end of life care in a hospital, as it will reduce the burden on their caregivers and provide them with quicker access to treatment.

End of life care is also available at long-term care facilities, like nursing homes.

This can be a good option for people who aren’t able to receive care at home but would like to be in an environment that’s a bit less clinical than a hospital.

Although long-term care facilities will have a staff of trained medical professionals, they are less likely to have a specialized palliative care unit than a hospital or dedicated hospice building.

The benefit of staying in a long-term care facility over a hospital is that there are more opportunities to be around other people, and the person you’re caring for will feel more like they’re part of a community.

Dedicated residential hospice is another option for end of life care. These are typically houses or apartments where palliative care is provided in a home-like setting on a 24-hour basis.

Trained palliative care nurses provide constant support and companionship to the residents, and try to make their final days as comfortable as possible.

Unfortunately, there are currently only a few residential hospices in Canada, so it may be difficult to get a spot in one.

If residential hospice is the preferred choice for the person you’re caring for, it’s a good idea to start looking into availability as soon as possible.

Even though it may be uncomfortable, having a discussion about end of life care with the person you’re caring, for now, will help you be bettered prepared for when the time comes to make the arrangements.

If they’re unsure about which option might be best for them, their healthcare team can provide them with additional info and advice.

Watch our video on how to create an advanced care plan for more information on providing end of life care. You can also visit our CareChannel website for more caregiver support and resources.