California Hospice Care

In its most basic definition, California hospice care programs provide medical services, emotional support and counseling, and spiritual resources for a loved one who is in the last stages of a terminal illness, like cancer. Counseling and emotional support is also often provided for the primary caregivers of the ailing individual. There are emotional and practical challenges that must be met in preparing for the end of a loved one’s life.

The ultimate goal in California hospice care is to keep your loved one comfortable in the last stages of their illness and to improve the quality of their life, even as they are dying. In some instances, these medical services can provided within one’s own home, which many terminally ill patients find immeasurably comforting. However, it should be clearly noted that the medical services provided by hospice care are not seeking a cure for your loved one’s illness.

Most California hospice care programs offer their services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are a broad range of services offered by a hospice care program. For example, some of the most common services offered include basic medical care with an emphasis on pain and symptom control, medical supplies and other equipment, and counseling for psychological, emotional, and spiritual issues. As a caregiver, a hospice care program can also provide you with a much needed respite from your duties.

In most instances with California hospice care programs, you will still generally serve as your loved one’s primary caregiver; however, a hospice care team will visit your ailing relative’s home 1-3 times a week, as needed. A hospice team will generally consist of a doctor, nurses, social workers, and nursing assistants. Medical personnel will be available to come to your loved one’s home 24 hours a day when you need them. When it comes to choosing the right hospice care program for your loved one, please remember to contact Senior Living Options of the Desert for assistance.