How Elation Hospice & Palliative Care Supports Family Caregivers

Caring for a loved one with a terminal illness can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Partnering with a professional hospice care team helps ease that burden, allowing caregivers to stay focused and supported while reducing the risk of burnout. Hospice professionals assist with essential daily tasks and offer access to a multidisciplinary team—including nurses, social workers, chaplains, and counselors—who address everything from symptom relief to emotional and spiritual concerns.

For caregivers in need of rest, respite care offers temporary relief. This service provides short-term, 24-hour care in a dedicated facility—such as a skilled nursing home—giving family caregivers the opportunity to recharge while ensuring their loved one continues to receive compassionate, professional care.

Yes—hospice care is most often provided in the comfort of the patient’s home or the home of a loved one. Many individuals with a terminal illness prefer to spend their final days in familiar surroundings, and hospice care makes this possible by delivering personalized support directly where the patient resides.

While home is the most common setting, hospice care can also be provided in a hospital or inpatient facility when the patient’s needs require a higher level of care. Once stabilized, care can transition back to the home environment if appropriate.

Hospice services are coordinated collaboratively between the patient, family caregivers, healthcare providers, and the hospice team. Visits are scheduled based on the patient’s condition and preferences and can increase or decrease as needs change. Around-the-clock support is available to ensure that patients and families have access to compassionate, expert care whenever it’s needed.

The hospice care journey typically begins with a referral from a physician or family member when curative treatments are no longer effective or the patient chooses to focus on comfort rather than aggressive treatment. After the referral, a hospice nurse will visit the home to assess the patient’s condition, confirm eligibility, and help develop a personalized care plan. During this initial visit, family caregivers are encouraged to ask questions and share concerns to ensure everyone is aligned before services begin.

Once care is initiated, regular home visits are scheduled based on the patient’s needs. The hospice team—which may include nurses, hospice aides, counselors, spiritual advisors, and trained volunteers—works together to manage symptoms and support the patient’s comfort and dignity. Medical equipment, supplies, and medications related to the hospice diagnosis are delivered and maintained by the hospice team as outlined in the care plan. A dedicated care coordinator oversees all services and serves as the main point of contact for the family, ensuring seamless communication and support.

As the patient approaches the end of life, bereavement support begins. Grief counselors reach out to family members to offer emotional guidance and continued support, which often starts before the patient's passing and continues for up to 13 months afterward. This compassionate care helps families prepare, cope, and begin the healing process with the guidance they need every step of the way.

The decision to begin hospice care can be initiated by the patient, their family, or a physician. While many people wait until the final days or weeks of life to seek hospice, starting the conversation earlier can provide significant benefits—both for the patient’s comfort and for the well-being of their caregivers.

At Elation Hospice & Palliative Care, we can begin the admission process in under an hour once an appropriate referral is received. However, we encourage families to discuss hospice options well before a crisis occurs. Talking with the patient’s primary care physician early allows you to set expectations, make informed decisions, and have a plan in place when the time is right.

Engaging hospice services earlier can help relieve the growing demands on caregivers and ensure the patient receives personalized, compassionate support as their condition progresses. As health declines, coordinating care on your own can become overwhelming. Hospice provides expert guidance, symptom management, and emotional support to ease that burden and improve quality of life.

Whether you're exploring hospice for the first time or ready to begin services, Elation Hospice is here for you—available 24/7 to answer questions and support your family when you need it most. Contact us today to find the nearest location and take the next step toward compassionate care.