Maintaining Their Independence for At-Home Hospice

Being able to perform some everyday activities independently, however small, may help in maintaining a sense of dignity for at-home hospice. If you can, ensure your loved one has shoes and clothes they can slip on and off by themselves. Let them look through their own mail, give them their own TV remote, and let them spend some time alone. Even if a caregiver is just in the next room, it is imperative your loved one has some time to themselves to rest, think and cope.

Plan their meals in advance – The kitchen is one of the easiest places in the house for a patient to injure him or herself. To help avoid this, prep meals and snacks ahead of time or purchase them ready-made. Keep them on hand and, if they require heating, make sure it can be done in a microwave and provide instructions. In some cases, hospice will provide a separate caregiver to do light cooking and cleaning. You can also look into meal-delivery services like Meals on Wheels.
Maintain their sense of privacy – This is another big concern, especially when it comes to personal care issues like bathing and using the restroom. While the patient will more than likely require some assistance, you can promote independence in the bathroom with modifications like grab bars, tub benches and raised commode seats. If a bedside toilet is necessary, position it behind curtains or a movable screen.
Keep some of your own peace of mind – Depending on the level of the patient’s independence, family members may want to consider a medical alert system that will allow the patient to notify someone in the event of a fall or other emergency. If your loved one will be alone at any point of the day or night, this can bring him or her (as well as family members and caregivers) peace of mind.

For additional articles on creating a peaceful at-home hospice for your loved one, see:

(article courtesy of HomeAdvisor; see it here)

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