The hospice model of care depends on caregivers — either hired professionals or family members and friends — to meet the day-to-day needs of patients. This is especially true when hospice care is provided at a private residence rather than a nursing home or other facility. Many people consider it a duty, a calling, or…
Caregiving can be difficult, both physically and mentally. As a caregiver, it is important to look after your own health and wellbeing while caring for your loved one. There are many ways to practice self-care and seek support as you cope with grief.
When a patient receiving hospice care dies at home, family and caregivers should not call 911 or emergency services. If you believe your loved one has died, call your hospice provider at the 24-hour call center number. A team member will come to confirm the death and assist with final arrangements. Final arrangements The hospice…
Grief is a reaction to loss, and like a fingerprint, it is different for everyone. Many factors influence how you experience and express grief, including your relationship to the person who died, the circumstances of the death, and your culture and spirituality. Grief is not always about the death of someone you love. You may…
Researchers have studied grief and grieving for decades. Many of their findings can be helpful to people who are grieving or providing support to the bereaved. Below are brief summaries of some significant grief and loss research published in recent decades. Resilience after loss Dr. George Bonano The author of The Other Side of Sadness:…
Like adults, children and adolescents face losses and experience grief. Loved ones die — grandparents, parents, siblings, and friends. The death of a beloved pet is often a child’s first experience with death. Other losses that do not involve death, such as divorce, family relocation, or a friend moving away, also may generate grief. As…
Loss — especially the death of a loved one — is among life’s greatest stressors. It can affect you in physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, social, spiritual, and practical ways. Uncomfortable and sometimes complex feelings are natural responses to the death of a loved one. Everyone responds differently, but it is common to feel intense sadness,…
Although grief is painful and can feel disabling, most people who experience loss return to their pre-loss level of functioning, or even improved functioning, within several months. However, some people need additional support. Underlying medical conditions, your personal history and external support systems, the type of loss and variables in the relationship all play a…
Typically, grief is associated with a person’s death, but it can be caused by other losses, too. People also experience grief due to the death of an animal companion, or non-death loss, such as the loss of a valued relationship, possession, ability, or activity. Grief can also be experienced as a result of impending or mounting loss, also known as “anticipatory grief.”
Whether you’re a patient, family member, or a friend trying to determine whether hospice is the right choice, HFA is here. We provide guidance before, during, and after the important decisions are made.
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