Other services offered by hospice care

• Companionship. As they near death, many people seem to retrench, displaying less interest and energy in engaging with the world and people around them. But they may find it soothing to have someone read to them, play their favorite music, or simply sit quietly nearby as a calming presence.

Others seem energized at the end, with a strong urge to reminisce and discuss the past -- and they might find it most soothing to have a compassionate person around to listen and interact with them. Interestingly, many find it easier to open up to strangers rather than family members who carry the history and baggage of the years. Many hospice services can arrange for such social visitors, often drawn from a pool of community volunteers.

• Spiritual care. Hospice care emphasizes the spiritual needs of a patient and the rest of his or her family members. The spiritual care provided is tailored to the needs and beliefs of the individuals involved -- and can encompass issues as basic as talking about the meaning of death to performing particular religious rituals. For example, a hospice worker may be able to arrange to have a volunteer visit daily and read Bible passages to a patient who would find this soothing.
• Transferring from home care to inpatient care. If a patient's medical condition changes and he or she must be admitted to a hospital, extended-care facility, or a hospice inpatient facility, the hospice provider can coordinate the transfer. Hospice workers can also stay informed about the treatment and keep in touch with you and family members, arranging to resume in-home care when appropriate.
• Respite care. As a caregiver, it's practically inevitable that you'll need time off from your responsibilities to relieve stress, regroup, and prevent burnout -- and respite care makes that possible. Hospice workers can provide temporary, intermittent, substitute care, relieving you of daily caregiving responsibilities.

During the break, you can rest and attend to your own personal and health needs. Most hospice services arrange for one to five days of respite care.

• Family conferences. Hospice services generally schedule regular family conferences, often facilitated by a nurse or social worker, so that family members can stay informed about their loved one's condition and can learn what to expect during the days of physical decline ahead. Such conferences also provide everyone with the opportunity to discuss their feelings, talk about expectations, and learn about death and dying.
• After-death services. After a death, hospice workers can perform necessary cleanup, dispose of unused medications, and call for the body to be picked up by a funeral or cremation service if that has been arranged in advance.
• Bereavement care. Following a death, the hospice care team can help everyone through the grieving process. A trained volunteer, clergy member, or professional counselor can provide emotional support through visits, phone calls, e-mail messages, and letters. Many hospice agencies also offer support groups or will make referrals to other medical or psychological resources if needed. Bereavement services are generally available for about a year after a death occurs.