According to a study conducted by Duke University, the United States ranked #43 out of 81 countries when it comes to the quality of the end of life care that is provided through the hospice system.
Why is this?
One of the big reasons why the U.S. ranks so poorly compared to other countries is because of the cost associated with hospice care. A lot of people believe that it is far too expensive and it prohibits the ability of many people to access this care with ease. It places unnecessary burdens on families that are already going through a really tough time.
Another big factor for this ranking is the impersonal feel that hospice care tends to have. People receiving hospice care in an institutionalized setting are with several other individuals and the attention of the caregivers and other staff is often divided. At a time when someone is in need of individualized attention, the odds that this is actually occurring are not nearly as good as they should be.
These factors are certainly not true of each situation, of course. Some hospice care homes are very different from these stereotypes, but many do fit the mold. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know what you are most likely to find in your area unless you have spent some time researching this before this kind of care is ever needed. Death and end of life matters are not things that most people want to think about, though. Unfortunately, most people don’t start thinking about these kinds of services until they are urgently needed.
Preparation is the key to success here. It’s important to know what’s available, what the costs will be, and what hurdles you might be up against to make this transition as seamless as possible for your family. The sooner you start the process, the less stressful it will be as you will have a considerable headstart when it comes time to actually put your plan into motion.
This is a tough experience for anyone to go through. It’s difficult for the entire family. But there are resources out there that can help make this process a little bit easier. Start with an understanding of what you are looking for out of care, whether it be hospice or long term. Knowing what you need to get out of your care service will make it easier to identify which resources out there will be helpful and which ones will not be.
Senior care will look differently for everyone, especially as things become more and more advanced in their nature. Whether you’re looking for senior care, hospice assistance, or something else, we’re here to help. Please feel free to get in touch with us to talk more about how in-home care might be able to help.
In-home care can cover a wide variety of needs, including palliative and end of life care. It’s non-intrusive because it allows the caregiver to come to you, rather than force someone to disrupt their life and move to a new location.
Give us a call to start the conversation with our free consultation service.
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