Things to Ask Your Loved One’s Hospice Worker About

Woman Standing Beside Elderly Man on Bed

It can be difficult to come to terms with your loved one and their age. It’s especially nerve-wracking to think that any moment would be the last, so it’s important to provide everything that your loved one needs at this time. Home care would allow the sick and elderly to make themselves comfortable at home while still receiving proper care and support.

Many families, understandably, want to take care of their kind as they enter the final stage in their life. It can be difficult to provide the clinical assistance needed, though, especially if you don’t have any prior experience or knowledge. While you can still be there for your loved one, the next best thing to do is to hire a compassionate and caring hospice worker.

How exactly should you screen them, though? What are the questions that you should be asking to know whether they’re a good fit or not? Here are some topics that you should touch on when interviewing potential hospice workers for your loved ones.

Regular Protocols

It’s likely that this is the first time you’re going to hire a hospice company, so it’s important to know what your expectations should be regarding their work on a day-to-day basis. Ask them about what their regular protocols are and what they hope to do for your loved one.

Typically, you should be getting clinical and physical care literature from a hospice worker to improve the quality of life that your loved one is going through. You want them to have as much freedom from worrying about getting their meals, missing medication, and even breathing.

Services

Aside from regular protocols that a hospice worker has to follow when caring for your loved one, try to check in on what other services you’d like them to provide. Your loved one deserves attention, support, and care at this time. Companionship and trust should be developed.

It would be ideal if your hospice worker would be able to provide certain psychological and social support to your loved one. Having them give that relief and assisting them in their own emotional journey would be an unparallel service.

Reservations

Certain hospice workers may have few reservations about how they want to approach caring for a patient. Speak to them or the main organization in order to understand what they are willing and not willing to do.

For example, if a hospice worker does not want to deliver spiritual care or anything related to religion, it can create conflict and distress for your loved one. It’s best to check such traits and beliefs in advance just to be sure.

Arrangements

Finally, one thing that you shouldn’t forget to ask your loved one’s potential hospice worker is the working arrangements. Some people want to know what days visits are scheduled far in advance or if they can request certain days.

Communicate the ideal arrangement that your loved one would desire to your interviewees. By making it clear, you’re sure to get someone who can stick with those schedules and terms that your loved one would appreciate.

Conclusion

There may be plenty of uncomfortable discussions, but it’ll be worth it if you find a hospice worker that would be able to truly take care of your loved one. All that truly matters is to give nothing but the best to them, after all.

Looking for hospice care at home in California? Trained clinicians and therapists from Bridge Home Health & Hospice provide home-based patient care. Get in touch with us today.