One of the misconceptions, or myths, of hospice is that it’s a place; some sort of medical building. The notion is that if you sign on to hospice service you will have to go somewhere. With many hospices, you don’t go anywhere. In fact, you stay where you live whether it is your home, a family member’s home, a friend’s home, a nursing home or an assisted living facility.
However, not to muddy the waters, there are some hospices in America that do operate care facilities for those on their patients. When the famous Washington Post columnist, Art Buchwald, admitted himself into a Washington D.C. area hospice he moved into their facility. That particular hospice didn’t visit people in their home, as the hospice where I volunteer does. Our hospice facility is, at its core, a short term respite facility.
And when we care for people who live in their house, we understand that it is their house and not ours. Therefore, they may have their bed set up where ever they want. As a hospice volunteer, several of the people I visited preferred to sleep in their living room recliners because they were more comfortable. It’s their home, after all.
In your home, the feeling of who is in control is brought back to you. In a hospital, or in any type of institution, you are not in control. In your home you are in control and can stay in any room you prefer. During this stage of your life, being in control is one of the most important aspects of life.
However, not to muddy the waters, there are some hospices in America that do operate care facilities for those on their patients. When the famous Washington Post columnist, Art Buchwald, admitted himself into a Washington D.C. area hospice he moved into their facility. That particular hospice didn’t visit people in their home, as the hospice where I volunteer does. Our hospice facility is, at its core, a short term respite facility.
And when we care for people who live in their house, we understand that it is their house and not ours. Therefore, they may have their bed set up where ever they want. As a hospice volunteer, several of the people I visited preferred to sleep in their living room recliners because they were more comfortable. It’s their home, after all.
In your home, the feeling of who is in control is brought back to you. In a hospital, or in any type of institution, you are not in control. In your home you are in control and can stay in any room you prefer. During this stage of your life, being in control is one of the most important aspects of life.
