The Role of Hospice Care for Loved Ones with Dementia

Alzheimer’s and dementia conditions can bring physical and emotional battles for patients and their loved ones, and in its end stages, requires specialist care. Look for hospice services that have experience with individuals with dementia, as they provide this care with expertise and compassion, focusing on relieving pain, controlling symptoms and maintaining a good quality of life.

This not only keeps these individuals comfortable and safe, it also measurably reduces the anxiety and worry families experience, relieving them of the care burden so that they can spend time with their loved one. Here are some more insights from the team at our hospice and palliative care community in South Jersey.

What is the Right Time to Choose Hospice Care? 

Hospice is a service designed specifically for end-of-life care when a person has been medically determined to have six months or less of life remaining. Due to the unpredictable speed of decline dementia can bring, it can be more difficult to determine when hospice is the right option.

While only a doctor can make the final determination, caregivers, friends and family should keep an eye out for the following common signs in declining patients:

• They don’t speak more than a few words at a time.
• They are no longer mobile and cannot move from their bed.
• They are dependent on others for eating, dressing, grooming, and hygiene.
• They commonly express high anxiety.

If you are concerned about your loved one, you can request a hospice evaluation from your loved one’s doctor or neurologist to help determine the right course of action. It’s important to remember that you are your loved one’s advocate, and it’s up to you to act to ensure that they are getting the care they need and deserve.

While the idea of hospice care can be frightening or stressful to consider, the benefits of having a team of trained caregivers cannot be overestimated. In fact, terminal care patients benefit significantly from moving into hospice care — suffering fewer hospitalizations and gaining the advantage of effective pain management programs. Families also find greater satisfaction in hospice care, as they are surrounded by a supportive and caring team who are there to help ease this journey.

Find Out How a Leading Hospice and Palliative Care Community in South Jersey Can Care for Your Loved One 

At The Shores, a part of the well-known United Methodist Communities non-profit organization in New Jersey, we offer care in a compassionate, professional hospice neighborhood in the Jersey Shore area called Bridges. It focuses on creating a nurturing and comforting environment for individuals and their loved ones through customized care programs and compassionate support. To find out more about our hospice in South Jersey, please visit our website at https://umcommunities.org/theshores/hospice-care-nj/ or contact us today and organize your visit.