Choosing in-home hospice care is a deeply personal decision rooted in love, compassion, and the desire to provide comfort during the final chapter of life. If your family is beginning this journey, it’s natural to have questions, concerns, and emotions that feel overwhelming. We’re here to walk beside you every step of the way to ensure your loved one receives the support, dignity, and comfort they deserve.
- Understand What To Expect
- Create A Comfortable, Safe Home Environment
- Gather Medical & Legal Documents
- Prepare Emotionally For The Transition
- Preparation For The First Hospice Visit
- Build A Team Of Support
- Use Hospice Team As A Resource
1. Understand What To Expect From Hospice At Home
Before supporting a loved one at home, it helps to understand how in-home hospice works. Hospice care is specialized end-of-life care focused on comfort. Services are typically provided wherever the patient lives, including private residences. Your care team – typically including physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers – work with you to manage symptoms, offer emotional and spiritual support, and guide family caregivers.
What families need to know: You don’t have to do this alone. Hospice care is a full-support model designed to ease the burden on families while prioritizing the patient’s quality of life.
2. Create A Comfortable, Safe Home Environment For Hospice
One of the first steps in hospice care preparation is organizing your home to meet your loved one’s needs. The hospice nurse or care coordinator will help assess your space. You will receive recommended adjustments that support patient safety and ease of care. This might include rearranging furniture, clearing walkways, setting up a hospital bed, or installing oxygen equipment.
Hospice Home Setup Checklist
- Choose a quiet, accessible room with natural light.
- Ensure space for medical equipment.
- Keep frequently used items within arm’s reach
- Remove rugs or clutter to prevent falls.
- Add extra lighting for safety and comfort.
This step is not about creating a sterile space. It’s about building a peaceful, healing environment where your loved one feels supported and secure.
3. Gather Medical & Legal Documents In Advance
Part of preparing for hospice includes organizing important medical and legal paperwork. This helps your hospice team provide seamless care and ensures that your loved one’s wishes are respected.
- Advance Directives Or Living Wills
- Medical History & Current Medications
- Power Of Attorney Or Healthcare Proxy
- Insurance Information
- Emergency Contacts
Having these ready helps the hospice care team focus on what matters most – your loved one’s comfort and dignity.
4. Prepare Emotionally For The Transition To Hospice
It’s okay to feel conflicted. Many families experience a mix of relief, grief, fear, and guilt when starting palliative care at home. Emotional preparation for hospice is just as important as physical preparation. Hospice care does not mean giving up hope. It means shifting your focus to comfort, connection, and peace.
Counseling and family hospice support can help you process feelings, have meaningful conversations, and find strength together.
- Talk openly with your loved one and family.
- Acknowledge emotions as they arise.
- Ask your hospice social worker for grief and spiritual support resources.
- Lean on your support network – friends, faith communities, or grief support groups.
5. Caregiver Preparation For The First Hospice Visit
When hospice care at home begins, your initial visit may include assessments, introductions, and planning. The hospice nurse visit prep includes evaluating the patient’s needs, developing a care plan, and coordinating medications and supplies.
What Typically Happens First
- Nurse Assesses Patient Comfort & Symptoms
- Social Worker Explains Available Resources
- Equipment Is Delivered & Arranged
- Family Receives Guidance On Caregiving Tasks
- The Schedule Of Visits Is Established
This visit is also a chance to ask questions and set expectations. It’s the start of a collaborative, compassionate partnership.
6. Build A Team Of Support For Your Loved One & Yourself
While the hospice team provides expert care, family and friends play an essential role in supporting the patient. Establish a family hospice support system to help with caregiving duties, emotional encouragement, and day-to-day responsibilities.
Family Guide To Hospice
- Consider Rotating Shifts
- Arranging For Meal Delivery
- Creating A Communication Hub For Updates & Needs
- Schedule Time For Self-Care
- Know Your Limits
- Ask For Help When Needed
When reviewing your home hospice checklist, remember, you don’t have to be perfect. You just have to show up with love.
7. Use Your Hospice Team As A Resource
Hospice care is more than just medical support. It’s a holistic approach to end-of-life care at home. Your team includes professionals trained in pain management, dementia care, spiritual counseling, grief support, and so much more.
Amore Hospice Care Services
- 24/7 Nurse Availability
- Medication Management
- Personal Care Assistance
- Emotional & Spiritual Support
- Hospice Care For Dementia & Other Complex Conditions
- Bereavement Services For Up To 13 Months After A Loved One’s Passing
Our team is always just a phone call away. Whether you need hospice care planning tips, medical advice, emotional reassurance, or someone to sit quietly beside you, we’re here.
Get Started With Hospice Care Services In Las Vegas
If you’re wondering how to prepare for hospice in Las Vegas, let Amore Hospice Care walk with you. Call us today to schedule a free hospice consultation and discover how we can support your family with starting hospice care. Let’s make this journey one of comfort, peace, and love.