If you have an aging loved one, you may be wondering where they will be most comfortable living out the last few years of their life. Many families send elderly relatives to a nursing home, but what about individuals who only have a few more months to live? In such a scenario, hospice care is a valid approach.

Since some nursing homes also provide hospice care, they might seem like the perfect combination for everyone’ s needs. However, there are several drawbacks of such a facility. If you’re not sure where your loved one will thrive, the compassionate team at Wolcott View Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center in New Haven County, CT, is happy to explain all of your options so you can opt for the health center that makes the most sense for your family.

How to Choose Between a Nursing Home & Hospice Care

When to Reside in a Nursing Home

Your loved one will thrive in a nursing home if they require around-the-clock care but do not necessarily have a definite prognosis regarding future longevity. People can reside in long-term care facilities for years. Nursing home residents typically receive three meals a day, prescription medication as needed, and regular nursing care.

If you are considering enrolling your loved one in a nursing home that also provides hospice care, it is important to remember that Medicare will cover either room and board or hospice care, but not both. As a result, many families opt to move their aging relatives to a facility that specializes in hospice care and has more affordable rates when the time comes. Depending on the patient’s prognosis, some even move their relative back home and use hospice care there, which Medicare should cover.

When to Opt for Hospice Care

If nursing homes are for the living, hospice programs are for those who have received a “failure to thrive” diagnosis. In general, hospice residents are individuals who are not expected to live for more than six months. Although fighting disease or curing a particular condition is not the goal of hospice care, residents will have regular access to medical care to ease the worst of their symptoms. They will also receive spiritual and emotional support, and their families can opt to take part in some coping exercises as well.

If your loved one currently resides at a nursing home but you are looking for a facility that provides comprehensive hospice care, turn to Wolcott View Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center in Connecticut. To learn more about their hospice care program, visit them online. You can also call (203) 879-8066 to discuss your family’s needs.