Learning About Hospice Sooner Benefits Caregivers, Loved Ones

Burning the candle at both ends.

For family caregivers, it’s easy to do when juggling caregiving for a loved one with jobs and other responsibilities but not taking care of themselves can result in a snowball of negative effects, often unintended. Valerie Willock, a community relations specialist with Emmanuel Hospice, has seen it play out too often.

“If the caregiver is not taking care of themselves, that’s not helping anyone,” she says. “Caregiver fatigue and burnout are very real. There are a lot of layers of stress that begin to weigh on caregivers over time. There’s emotional and physical challenges, as well as a financial impact.”

Willock believes seeking support is an act of self-care and assures caregivers who are hesitant to ask for help that “people want to take care of people.”

“It’s important to find your community, whether it’s through your church, book club or a support group  to help you get through difficult times,” she says. “Open up to people, and you’ll find others who are going through a similar situation. It really helps to realize you’re not alone.”

Equally important is taking time to learn about resources that can support you throughout your caregiving journey. Hospice care is one of those resources.

From Willock’s perspective, too few know how supportive hospice is – not only for patients but for caregivers, too. With hospice, she says caregivers and other family members gain “a whole support system” that allows them to focus on cherishing the remaining time with their loved one.

That support system includes an interdisciplinary team of medical providers, along with a social worker, home health aides, spiritual caregivers, complementary therapy specialists, bereavement counselors and others to ensure all needs are met. In addition, hospice can help take care of all the “nitty-gritty,” as Willock likes to say, of day-to-day care, including medication, durable medical equipment and other supplies.

“We serve as navigators at the end of life,” she said. “For anyone hesitant about accepting outside help, let me reassure you we are not here to take over control. We are here to listen, support and answer questions. We meet you where you are and just give you extra cushion.”

Willock’s goal for every family member she meets is for them to have the opportunity to step out of the role of caregiver and “just be the daughter, son or spouse” of their loved one during whatever time they have left together. She says learning about hospice sooner rather than later is always best and encourages families to have open conversations about how they want to live at the end of life.

“Once a caregiver has that conversation, a weight is lifted because there’s clarity about their loved one’s wishes,” Willock explains. “They know who to call and what comes next. No surprises, just support.”

For more information, call 616.719.0919 or visit EmmanuelHospice.org.