How Hospice Care Supports Geriatric Care

As we move into our later years of life, we have an evolving set of needs related to our personal care and quality of life. Our minds and bodies have different requirements than they did when we were younger. 
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This is where geriatric care becomes an important and useful resource. It focuses specifically on the provision of care and resources for elderly people, from their physical health to their mental health and well-being. 

Hospice care is another important resource for people in a later stage of life. It differs from geriatric care in that it is focused on providing care and support to people who are reaching the very end of life, typically due to advancing illness.
Hospice and outpatient care specifically emphasizes quality of life, comfort, and well-being. 

Hospice care and geriatric care often go together—overlapping, complementing, and supporting each other. Here are some of the ways how:

1) Patient advocacy

When you’re unwell, you often don’t have the awareness, energy, or ability to advocate for yourself. This is even more true for older people who may be dealing with age-related cognitive decline on top of whatever other health issue they are facing. In cases like this, it’s essential to have people on your side who will make sure you get the proper care and can help make decisions in your best interest. A geriatric care manager can work in tandem with hospice care workers to provide this necessary support to the patient and their families.

2) Help with in-home care

Many people opt to have in-home care as their ability to care for themselves diminishes over time. When they reach the stage of needing hospice care, they typically require support for all of their daily tasks, including bathing, getting dressed, running errands, performing housework. A coordinated approach by geriatric and hospice support works can help ensure that all of these needs are met.

3) Making the transition to hospice care

It can be difficult to know when and how to make the transition to hospice care. Having geriatric care workers who are already familiar with your particular situation makes this process much easier. They can advise, support, and guide you through the process as well as prepare you for what to expect as you reach this stage of life.