How Hospice Care Helps Patients Dealing With Mental Illness

hospice care

Mental health is equally important as physical health. However, not all families realize that, so they end up ignoring or overlooking mental health issues in their families. As a result, many patients dealing with mental health issues don’t get the proper treatment and care they need, resulting in more severe complications and effects. 

If you think someone in your family is struggling with their mental health, you can help them by signing them up for hospice care. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about how hospice care can help patients dealing with mental health issues.

What Happens If You Ignore Your Loved One’s Mental Illness? 

First, you need to know what will happen if you ignore mental illness to understand the importance of addressing it. If someone in your family is struggling with mental illness, there’s a higher chance that they may experience these issues or problems:

  • Conflict in family relationships and friendships
  • Social isolation and difficulty participating in activities
  • Decreased enjoyment of life
  • Abuse of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs
  • Difficulty thriving in work or school
  • Unwanted weight loss or gain
  • Self-harm or harm to others
  • Financial or legal challenges
  • Physical complications like heart diseases, high blood pressure, etc. 

Clearly, mental illness can affect all areas of life. So, don’t ignore it and help someone you think is suffering from mental illness right away.

How Can Hospice Care Help Manage Mental Health Challenges? 

If you enroll your family member in hospice care, you can ensure that they will be properly cared for since they will receive adequate treatment for their mental health needs. 

Since patients with mental health conditions often cannot commit to their goals of care, hospice care will be there to ensure that the patient will stick to the treatment plan. For example, if the patient takes antidepressants, the hospice care will continue that medication in their hospice care plan. In other words, the patient will receive good treatment from their doctor and medical care team in hospice care. 

What’s Good About Enrolling in Hospice Care?

The good thing about enrolling in hospice care, especially for patients dealing with mental health challenges, is that hospice care meets them where they are. Meaning, they see patients as persons and treat them as patients. They respect their choices and circumstances, and work with them according to their physical, mental, and emotional capabilities and limitations. You can ensure that each patient will be treated fairly and respectfully, without basing on and judging their cultural traditions, socio-economic status, family dynamics, and the like. 

The care team in hospice care will give the best and suitable treatment or support that can help patients with mental conditions improve. It can include meditation, medications, massage, nutrition, counseling, musical therapy, and many other treatments for their mental health.

Conclusion

Mental health challenges are an alarming issue that must be addressed as soon as possible. If you fail to notice and help people suffering from mental health challenges, those can negatively affect their physical, mental, social, and emotional health. So, in order to help them, endorse them in hospice care where they can get proper treatment and attention. This way, there’s a higher chance that they will get better because their condition will be appropriately managed. 

If you’re looking for the best and compassionate hospice care in San Diego, Bridge Home Health & Hospice is what you’re searching for. We provide home-based patient care done by trained clinicians and therapists. Our team will make you and your loved ones feel comforted in the most difficult of times. Contact us today to learn more about our hospice care programs.