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Can End-of-Life Care Be Done at Home?
Date Updated: December 14, 2024
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Sarah has produced thousands of articles in diverse niches over her decade-long career as a full-time freelance writer. This includes substantial content in the fields of senior care and health care. She has experience writing about wide-ranging topics, such as types of care, care costs, funding options, state Medicaid programs and senior resources.
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Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
Yes, end-of-life care can be done at home if the recipient's medical condition allows. Hospice agencies create personalized support plans that enable individuals to remain comfortably in the privacy of their homes for their final days. However, in-home hospice care often requires family assistance outside of regular visits.
At-Home End-of-Life Care Services
Medical professionals, such as nurses and therapists, deliver services in a patient’s residence. Services don’t include interventions to cure conditions. Instead, they enhance comfort, relieve pain and provide comprehensive care to individuals and their loved ones. Aides may also assist with personal care tasks, such as bathing, dressing and toileting. However, if an individual has complex care needs that can't be adequately managed at home, inpatient hospice care provides 24/7 medical supervision and support.
Commonly, agencies offer training, education and guidance to family members tasked with performing primary caregiver duties. Hospice teams include dietitians who ensure that seniors meet their nutrition and hydration requirements. Comprehensive in-home hospice care also supports terminally ill individuals mentally, emotionally and spiritually through counseling and religious ministry. Post-death, hospice provides grief therapy for families.
Paying for In-Home End-of-Life Care
Because of the specialized support, involvement of several health care professionals and intensity of services, end-of-life care is expensive. However, many older adults qualify for financial assistance through Medicare. Part A covers hospice services for eligible seniors. Alternatively, Medicaid and VA benefits include hospice coverage.
Those who don’t qualify for public funding pay for care using other means. Options include long-term care insurance, bank loans, reverse mortgages and private resources such as savings or income.