Caring for Caregivers: It’s Part of the Hospice Model

While other medical specialties focus primarily on the patient, hospice and palliative care expand that model to include the patient’s caregiver and loved ones, referring to it as the “unit of care.” The multidisciplinary hospice team provides the patient’s medical care and supports the social, emotional and spiritual needs of the unit of care. 

Including caregivers has become even more crucial because our aging population results in more people needing hospice services. According to a 2021 study, 85–94% of hospice patients are aged 65 or older, and nearly half are 85 or older. Caregiving can feel like a never-ending balancing act between the patient’s needs and their own. In fact, leading national organizations report that nearly 42 million Americans provided unpaid care to older adults, with 40–70% reporting clinical depression and 23% citing physical health impacts. 

Caregivers often find themselves taking on more as they help navigate complex healthcare systems – while trying to process their own emotions. This is where hospice can help. Center for Hospice Care’s (CHC) comprehensive serious illness programs can begin from diagnosis onward, providing expert support, relief and guidance when caregivers need it most.

With a skilled, compassionate care team in place, families receive the support they need. Prompt assistance from nurses, aides, physicians, social workers, chaplains and volunteers can make caregiving less overwhelming and allow loved ones to enjoy more quality time together. Respite care offers caregivers a chance to take breaks and recharge. Practical education and support for caregivers help them become more skilled and confident in their roles.

The care team at CHC is available to call for support around the clock, including night visits if needed. We can also help you navigate the complexities of healthcare, Medicare, insurance paperwork and financial concerns. In fact, Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance cover hospice services completely. If the patient has no insurance or limited coverage, CHC will still provide full care. As a hometown, non-profit hospice provider, one of CHC’s founding promises is that comfort and dignity belong to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for hospice services.

Caring for a loved one with complex conditions can feel even more daunting. CHC’s experienced clinical teams expertly manage complicated illnesses and multiple diagnoses – even cases other providers can’t or won’t handle. Exclusive, proven, disease-specific programs, like HeartWize® for cardiac conditions and BreatheEazy® for advanced pulmonary disease, offer expert, customized symptom management that helps loved ones stay comfortable at home, reducing the stress of hospital visits.  

One of the most challenging statements hospice providers hear is, “I wish I had called you sooner.” Patients with serious, advanced conditions don’t need to stop curative treatment or wait until hospice eligibility to receive meaningful help. CHC’s comprehensive care programs can start improving quality of living months or even years earlier and are often covered by Medicare and private insurance. From home-based palliative care that helps manage pain and symptoms to caregiver support, counseling and planning resources, patients and caregivers can find relief now.