Hospice Care in Washington, DC

At every stage in our lives, it’s important that we feel comforted and cared for. While this is something we always want and seek out, it’s especially important that we have this towards the end of our lives. The later stages of our lives are often the most difficult to go through, which makes the relationships we have more important than ever. The advanced stages of illness at this point also create a need for special health care that helps make it easier for patients and their loved ones. 

When you have a loved one reaching the end of their life, it can be difficult to focus on the medical care they require. Days, weeks, and months may be filled with difficult decisions and complex emotions. At Capital Caring, we know how important it is to have the right resources to rely on during this time. By providing hospice care in Washington, DC, we can help give our patients and their families the comfort and care they need during this transition. 

What is Hospice Care

Many people don’t fully understand what hospice care entails until they need it for themselves or a loved one. Hospice care is intended to bring comfort to patients with terminal illnesses and their loved ones as they near the end of their lives. In order to provide hospice care, Capital Caring has an interdisciplinary team of experts to help give our patients individualized care. Hospice care encompasses the services and individuals and their loved ones need to be taken care of during this time, there is no one certain way of doing things.

When an advanced illness reaches its final stages, the medical care a person needs to relieve pain and feel more at ease may change as well. Making patients feel as physically comfortable at the time is a large part of hospice care. However, it also takes a toll on a person’s mental and emotional health as they begin to entire these stages. Hospice care focuses on these needs as well and provides mental, emotional, and spiritual support. It’s also intended to give loved ones the support they need and can help them prepare for a loved one’s passing. 

When to Consider Hospice Care

One of the most difficult parts of hospice care is deciding when the right time for it is. Hospice care is best used for people who are expected to require the services for around six months. At this point, it may be difficult for you to think about putting a loved one into hospice care, but these services are more beneficial the longer they’re used. Because of this, we recommend patients have hospice care for at least two to three months to ensure everyone has the time to fully utilize the services they need. When it comes to receiving hospice care, it’s far better for everyone involved to have ample time to use it, rather than to struggle without it. 

Some illnesses that will ultimately need hospice care in the advanced stages include the following:

• Cancer 
• Congestive heart failure
• Dementia and related illnesses
• HIV/AIDS
• Kidney failure
• Lung disease
• Neurological disorders 

Devoted Hospice Care in Washington, DC

When you’re seeking the proper end of life care for the loved one, compassion is one of the most important things to have. Having a loved one reach the end of their life is an incredibly emotional time and it can be difficult to invite others into your life during this time. At Capital Caring, we understand the care and compassion you want for your loved one and have a team of experts at our Washing DC and Sibley Hospital locations who work hard to give you the comfort you deserve.

Deciding when the right time for hospice care is and where to get your services from is a choice you should feel completely confident in.