Dear Olivia,
I’ve been caring for my mother since her health started declining, and I’m feeling completely overwhelmed. At her last doctor’s appointment, they mentioned palliative care, home health services, private duty nursing, and hospice as options, and now I’m confused about what would actually help Mom the most. I don’t understand the differences between these services or when each one would be appropriate for her situation. Can you please help me make sense of all these care options so I can make the best decision for my mother? I’m exhausted and feeling lost about what to do next.
~Care Option Overload
Dear Care Option Overload,
Care options have indeed become very complicated! The Visiting Nurse Association is here to help. Here is a brief summary of each one.
Home health is appropriate for rehabilitative services when someone is too ill, has just had surgery or a procedure, or has another disability that does not allow them to leave home for therapy. The goal here is to improve their health and function.
Private duty services, delivered through a nurse or home health aide, are appropriate when a person needs help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, medication management, housekeeping, or other personal care services.
Palliative care, or what VNA calls Supportive Palliative Care, is needed when a person has a serious or complex illness that requires symptom management. The person may or may not be at the end of life, but they need help to alleviate suffering. This care is delivered by a comprehensive team; VNA’s Supportive Palliative Program is called Care Choices.
Likewise, hospice services are delivered by a comprehensive team to alleviate suffering. Hospice Care is specifically for those nearing the end of life. Hospice provides support to not only the patient but the entire family. The goal of hospice is symptom management and holistic, patient-centered care that meets the needs of the whole person at the end of life.
I hope this very brief summary helps!
~Olivia