Hospice Care for Caregivers: What You Need to Know
Hospice care benefits not only your loved one but you as well
Serving as a caregiver to a loved one can be an overwhelming experience. While many caregivers consider it a calling–or even a privilege–to tend to a loved one with a terminal illness, that doesn’t make the process easy.
Many caregivers struggle with intense, complicated emotions, from grief to anger to anxiety. They may feel like they’ve had to put their own life on hold and then struggle with guilt over those feelings. They may neglect their own needs, leading to burnout and overwhelm. They may be exhausted and isolated.
Unfortunately, these struggles tend to increase the more care someone requires. However, many caregivers don’t realize that hospice care supports them just as it does their loved ones.
At Valir Health, our hospice care team understands the struggles faced by family caregivers. Our program includes several resources to help you through this difficult period, both while your loved one is in hospice and after they’ve passed.
Call us to schedule an appointment to learn more about the support we offer to caregivers and patients.
You’re Not Alone: The Challenges of Caregiving
A family caregiver is anyone who provides care to a loved one who cannot care for themselves, whether due to illness or old age. These caregivers are essentially an extension of the healthcare system, offering care and support to someone who can not afford to hire a live-in health team.
Family caregivers tend to serve in this role for multiple years (four years is the average) and spend around 24 hours a week providing care–although that amount increases to 45 hours per week if the caregiver lives with the patient. And in nearly all cases, this work is completely unpaid.
It should be no surprise that caregivers often face several physical, mental, and emotional strains. Here are just some of the mental impacts many caregivers face:
- Depression and anxiety
- High rates of negative emotions like guilt, sadness, anger, or dread
- Social isolation
- Anticipatory grief (grief experienced before someone has passed)
And here are some of the ways caregivers’ physical health can be affected:
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weakened immune systems
- Reduced physical health
- Increased stress hormones
Furthermore, many caregivers experience social strains, such as the following:
- Struggling to balance work and caregiving responsibilities
- Financial difficulties
- Difficulties in other relationships, including marriage
- Limited time for self-care, like exercising or eating healthfully
There’s no denying the challenges of caregiving–but hospice care at Valir Health can help ease some of the burdens.
How Hospice Care Benefits Caregivers
Having your loved one enter hospice does offer a new set of challenges. Most hospice services are provided at home, and it may initially feel like your responsibilities have dramatically increased, especially if you’re brought into them unprepared.
However, with hospice care at Valir Health, you’re supported by a dedicated, multidisciplinary team of experts who understand your struggle. We’ll work with you to develop a care plan, including tips and strategies for addressing any issues that might arise. Furthermore, our team is always a quick phone call away in case you have any questions or need advice.
We offer counseling services for all of our hospice patients and their families–including dedicated caregivers. Caregiving is emotionally taxing, but you may not have found time to seek mental health services. By incorporating them into your loved one’s care program, you can gain access to both secular and religious counseling, ensuring your emotional needs are addressed.
We can also give you a temporary break from caregiving if you want to go on a vacation, spend time with your family, or simply enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation. Your loved one will be well cared for at our Oklahoma-based hospice facility, allowing you to tend to your own needs without worry.
Many caregivers are also responsible for managing their loved one’s affairs upon their death, including making funeral arrangements. Hospice care can help with those arrangements during your loved one’s stay so that when the time comes, you’ll have the opportunity to grieve without worrying about logistics.
Finally, we extend support to the friends and families of all of our patients for at least 13 months following their death. You’ll receive continuous contact with us as you navigate life after your loved one’s passing, and you can choose to join one of our community support groups.
We’ll Help You Find the Support Your Need
If you’re struggling with your role as a caregiver, know that Valir Health is here to support you when the time comes for your loved one to enter hospice. We’ll work closely with you to ensure your loved one receives the care they need–and you have the chance to breathe.
To speak to one of our staff in more detail about our hospice care services, please call us today.