Of the many myths and misconceptions that exist around the field of senior care, among the most persistent is the false belief that hospice care is only offered in hospice facilities rather than being an option for in home treatment. In reality, the options for hospice care are actually much more flexible than this. A patient can receive hospice care in his or her own home; in the home of a loved one, whether that person be a blood relative or just a close friend; within an assisted senior living community; in a senior nursing home facility; and at the hospital, to name a few of the options available.
Key Takeaways:
- If your parents can’t receive hospice care in their own home, the next best option is the home of whoever is willing to serve as a primary caregiver and handle the logistics of hospice care visits.
- If your parents live in a nursing home, they can still receive visits from hospice care workers, and many hospice advocates strongly recommend that families use the Medicare hospice resources available to them.
- These homey, live-in facilities can be the best option for people who need hospice services, can’t live at home
“advocates of hospice care say it’s more accurate to think of hospice as a type of care rather than as a place.”
