Throughout life, people need a sense of dignity to maintain their well-being. Dignity, in this case, is the need to feel loved, valued, and respected. When a person reaches their end-of-life stage, they may feel despair not only for themselves but also for their loved ones who will be left behind.
Serenity Hospice Care and other similar facilities state that hospice services will help patients maintain a sense of dignity. Hospice is a good option for those who are diagnosed with a terminal illness. Mostly, the care rendered to these patients revolves around pain and symptoms relief, emotional support, and more.
Providing Pain and Symptom Relief
Healthcare practitioners, including nurses, are committed to providing compassionate end-of-life care. The members of the healthcare team work together to provide pain and symptom relief to patients who are terminally ill. Apart from giving pain relief, they provide support to the patient and the family.
Terminally ill patients may want to leave the world at peace and without discomfort. Providing pain relief during this time is crucial to let the patient live their remaining days with dignity and self-worth.
Giving Emotional Support
One of the hardest news to hear is that you only have six months or less left to live. Hospice care provides emotional support to the patient and their family. Healthcare providers communicate with their patients, listening to their sentiments and feelings. This way, the patient will feel valued and cared for.
The emotional support also helps the loved ones cope better during this difficult time. Caring for a family member with a terminal illness may cause stress, anxiety, resentment, frustration, and even depression. Support groups and programs in hospice facilities can assist both the patients and their families.
Providing Spiritual Support
Whether religious or not, most people have spiritual needs when they are terminally ill. In some cases, they need others to provide spiritual support to let them feel wanted and valued. Providing dignity through spiritual support is crucial for the patient to feel their life has been worthy and that they’re cherished by those who love them.
Promoting Independence
Though many terminally-ill patients have limited mobility, providing them a chance to retain independence makes them feel dignified. Also, in hospice care, they help the patient perform things they find fulfilling. These activities are likely to boost the patient’s sense of purpose and self-worth.
Providing Peace and Comfort
Hospice care provides peace and comfort to patients in the last days of their life. These patients can feel less anxious if they experience lesser pain and are comfortable in the remaining days of their lives. Also, they often receive treatment for their symptoms instead of the disease, making them as comfortable as possible. Pain, especially for cancer patients, is uncomfortable and distressing. With pain relief as one of the purposes of hospice care, patients will feel comfortably relaxed during their stay in the institution.
Hospice care is a place where terminally-ill patients receive the needed care to ensure they are comfortable, at peace, and pain-free in the remaining days of their lives. The healthcare team works together to ensure the patient passed with dignity, purpose, self-worth, and value.
