Choosing a hospice provider is one of the most important decisions you will make during your or your loved one’s end-of-life. The right provider will ensure as much comfort, dignity and agency as possible for your loved one during their final months, maximizing the quality moments spent with family and friends. To help you choose a hospice that is a good fit for your needs, here are some questions you should ask during your consultation.
Questions to Ask
- “Can you provide support in my loved one’s primary language?” Los Angeles is a diverse community. Being able to communicate quickly and easily in your loved one’s primary language is essential to providing the best care. At Journey Palliative and Hospice, the majority of our team members speak two or more languages.
- “What will you do to respect my loved one’s beliefs?” Every person has unique individual and cultural beliefs about what happens after death, and how best to prepare for that transition. Make sure that the hospice you are planning to work with will show the deepest respect and support for your loved one’s cherished beliefs, and be able to provide suitable spiritual counsel.
- “How do you ensure that my loved one’s agency is preserved?” Far too often, those who are in the end-of-life stage end up losing their autonomy. While some of this is the direct result of disease, it can be compounded by careless caregivers. Do not just ask a hospice if they will honor your loved one’s wishes, but how they will do so. Get specific details, especially in a case where the patient’s agency is severely restricted by their condition.
- “What role will our family play in working with your team?” When you enter your loved one into hospice, a multidisciplinary team collaborates with family members to provide the most effective and respectful care. Ask what specific role you will play and how the team will work with you to ensure your loved one’s needs are met.
- “Can you meet our specific needs?” By the time you are evaluating hospices, you should have a list of specific physical, emotional and spiritual needs for your loved one and your family. Go over each item in your list to check if the hospice can provide the care you require.
- “How quickly can you reach my loved one’s home?” One more question that is smart to ask is how long it will take the hospice to send emergency workers to your loved one’s home in a crisis.
Get Compassionate Hospice Care for Your Loved One
When you contact Journey Palliative and Hospice in Burbank, we will take as much time as needed to answer all of your questions in detail. To learn what we can do to help your loved one and family during this challenging time, please call (818) 748-3427 to schedule your consultation. We can serve you in Kern County, LA County, Ventura County or Orange County.
