During the end of life, a person becomes eligible for hospice care when they have a terminal diagnosis with six months to live.

Though hospice staff will take over a lot of care duties at that point, the primary caregiver is not a member of the hospice staff. It is generally a family member or friend.

Sometimes, the primary caregiver is simply the only person available. But other times, there could be several people who could potentially take on this role. How can you figure out who should be the primary caregiver? Here are some things to consider.

1. Your loved one’s preference. If your loved one has stated a clear preference, that person is probably the ideal person to choose, unless they are not available or there are other reasons the choice would not be a practical one. Respecting your loved one’s wishes maximizes their autonomy and dignity.
2. Legal considerations. If someone has already been given power of attorney, that person is often the best one to pick as primary caregiver. They are the one who will be able to make legal decisions on the behalf of the patient, so putting them in charge of the patient’s day-to-day care makes sense.
3. Location. Ideally, the primary caregiver will be located close to the patient. This allows them to check in on their loved one regularly, and arrive quickly if there is an emergency. There are situations where it might still be better to choose someone who is further away. You will have to weigh the pros and cons for your specific scenario.
4. Logistics, coordination and communication. The primary caregiver’s duties span beyond interacting just with their loved one. They also include working closely with their loved one’s medical team, as well as communicating with other family and friends. A person who excels at communication and logistics will be most effective as a primary caregiver.
5. Availability. For someone to act as a primary caregiver, they need to be available. If they have too many of their own obligations, or if they are struggling with their own health, they may not be able to take on the job even if they wish they could.
6. Motivation. One more factor to consider is how motivated someone is to be the primary caregiver. Someone who is aware of what the role entails, but who is prepared to make the sacrifices required, is a much better choice than someone who has strong reservations about being the primary caregiver.

Hospice Can Alleviate Some of the Burdens of Care

Whomever is chosen as primary caregiver, that person will have a lot of responsibilities to manage. But during the final months of their loved one’s life, they do not have to handle them alone. Hospice is here to help.

To learn more about our hospice services, please give us a call at (818) 748-3427. We are based in Burbank, and offer hospice services throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan region.