Caregiver Support
It’s important to realize that while the disease and its symptoms happen to the patient, illness has an effect on the entire family. Caring for the hospice patient at home can be rewarding, but it is also physically and emotionally draining for the caregivers.
For the caregiver(s), your Hospice of Chattanooga care team will provide you the support you deserve to take care of your loved one. If you are caring for someone who has chosen Hospice of Chattanooga, we will:
Explain what to expect so that you are not surprised or disturbed by certain sights, sounds, symptoms or behaviors.
Listen to your concerns and answer all your questions. Never sit around wondering. Feel free to call us 24/7, and you will be connected to one of our nurses, who will help you through the issue or schedule an emergency visit.
Teach you how to dispense medications, change dressings, bathe, and groom the patient and how to provide other types of physical care.
Talk with you about how to deal with family dynamics because the stress of serious illness can bring out the best and worst in family members. And this is a time to focus on the needs of the patient.
Help you fill out Medicare/insurance paperwork.
Arrange for a volunteer to sit with your loved one while you run errands, attend appointments or when you just need a little break.
Provide grief support services to you and your family.
It is very important that caregivers take extra care of themselves as well. Trained hospice volunteers are available to help caregivers with errands, household chores, etc. Our volunteers can also sit with patients to give caregivers a short break from their duties. This allows caregivers and family members to find and plan time to get out of the house and recharge their batteries.
