Hospice focuses on the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of people who are dying and their families. It concentrates on pain relief and comfort, as opposed to curative or life saving procedures. Its goal is to improve the dying person:s quality of life. Many dying people and their families seek hospice care when faced with terminal illness. A hospice may be a part of the health care facility or it may be a separate facility. Some hospices also offer home care. Hospice services also include support groups and follow-up care for survivors.
F uneral and Disposal of Remains When people are diagnosed with a terminal illness, they should think about what they want done after death in terms of funeral arrangements and disposal of their remains. While some people are organized and have already given the topic some thought, others have refused to look at the fact that one day they will die. It makes it much easier on the families, if dying individuals have made their wishes known. Some people do not want a service, some are against cremation, some do not want their ashes buried O there are several variables. It can be very stressful for all concerned if the dying person has not relayed his/her preferences.
Needs of People W ho H ave A Terminal Illness Basically, people who are dying have the same physical, emotional, and spiritual needs as everyone else. In addition, they have concerns about pain and distress, losing control over their bodies and worries about being deserted. What they need most of all is to be cared about, not just cared for. Caring for terminally ill people can be very challenging, as dying people have a lot on their plate to deal with -- the physical effects of the disease, medication, plus psychological and social challenges. The job of the Home Care Assistant is to involve the person with a terminal illness (as much as possible) in making decisions and developing plans. How Home C are Assistants C an H elp C lients W ith A T erminal Illness help them to accept that they have a terminal illness. Ii.e. If they pretend that they don:t have the illness, it s important to ensure they are benefiting from this action and are not doing anything that may be harmful such as not taking their medication.) create an environment that encourages and supports sharing feelings. (i.e. Discuss topics in a calm location, which is favorable for conversations to take place. Let them know you are available and leaving the timing up to them.) understanding that men and women communicate in different ways and allow for those differences. (i.e. Women express their feelings more readily than men do.) 58