Everyone’s hospice journey looks different. While each setting focuses on providing comfort care to people with life-limiting illnesses, each environment has its own benefits. Understanding the difference between in-home and inpatient hospice care can help you make an informed decision about which setting best supports your loved one’s needs.

In this blog, we’re comparing both environments, so you can feel confident choosing the type of care that provides the most comfort and peace for your loved one.

In-Home Hospice 

Setting and environment 

In-home hospice care lets people with life-limiting illnesses receive care in the comfort of their own home. It provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support, allowing them to remain in a familiar environment. Hospice teams manage the details that help care run smoothly at home. They work closely with your loved one’s care team to provide medical equipment and supplies directly to the home for added convenience.

In-home hospice combines professional care with the comforts of home, helping families create a peaceful, familiar environment.

Type of care provided 

Your loved one’s hospice care team is responsible for providing personalized and compassionate care. Their team includes nurses, physicians, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. They all play an active role in following your loved one’s care plan to ensure they receive the care they need. 

For your loved one’s convenience, hospice coordinates with their care team to bring medical equipment and supplies, such as oxygen tanks, mobility aids, and more. That way, you have everything you need to help keep your loved one safe and comfortable at home. 

Receiving hospice care in a familiar setting allows your loved one to remain surrounded by the people, routines, and comforts that bring them peace. 

Who may benefit from in-home hospice care 

If your loved one chooses to receive in-home hospice care, it may be the best option if they feel most at peace with familiar surroundings. This setting is often ideal for individuals who prefer to remain close to family, friends, and the comforts of home while receiving support from their care team.

It’s also a good fit for families who wish to take an active role in caregiving. Hospice staff provide family members with the resources and education they need to feel confident in supporting their loved one during their hospice care journey. 

In-home hospice can create a calm, comforting environment that allows your loved one to spend their remaining time in a place in which they are the most comfortable.

Inpatient Hospice 

Setting and environment 

Inpatient hospice care refers to care received outside the home, including skilled nursing facilities or a hospice facility. Oftentimes, these facilities are designed to feel comforting and inviting.

Most places offer private rooms that include comfortable furnishings and space for family visits. You may also bring in personal items from home, like blankets, picture frames, and keepsakes, to help your loved one feel more at home in an unfamiliar environment. Even though this may be a new and unfamiliar setting, their care team will ensure they feel comfortable and at peace. 

Type of care provided 

The type of care provided in an inpatient setting is similar to in-home; however, there may be some differences based on the level of care your loved one requires. For example, inpatient care often includes more frequent monitoring and around-the-clock access to the providers on their care team. 

A clinical setting, such as a skilled nursing facility, provides access to medical equipment that isn’t available at home.

Caregivers can also focus on spending quality time with their loved one instead of managing hands-on care. 

While the setting and care may seem different, the goal remains the same. Hospice is there to provide personal and compassionate care while effectively managing their symptoms and maintaining your loved one’s comfort and dignity.

Who may benefit from inpatient hospice 

In-home hospice care is not the right fit for everyone. For many families, inpatient hospice can be more beneficial than in-home care. Finding the best setting for your loved one depends on the level of care they need and should be discussed with your hospice provider.

If your loved one requires continuous medical supervision or more intensive symptom management, inpatient hospice may be the better option. This setting provides around-the-clock access to nurses and medical staff who can respond quickly to changes in comfort or condition.

Northern Illinois Hospice is here to provide compassionate end-of-life care

At Northern Illinois Hospice, we understand that every hospice journey is unique, which is why each care plan is tailored to the person’s goals and wishes. We take that information and create a team of individuals that can provide compassionate end-of-life care for your loved one. 

As the first hospice provider in the region, Northern Illinois Hospice has been helping people transition to hospice care for more than 45 years. Our team provides compassionate end-of-life care to individuals with life-limiting illnesses.

We honor patients and their wishes by providing specialized care that treats the person, not the disease. We offer a wide range of palliative and hospice care to improve your loved one’s quality of life in their final months.

Our experienced team of healthcare professionals, social workers, and volunteers is here to ensure your loved one’s comfort and support.

Get even more support with The Reading Room

Because hospice care offers so many services and benefits to patients, families, and providers, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to navigate. That’s why we created The Reading Room.

The Reading Room is a special place where people can learn and grow in their understanding of hospice and palliative care, anytime and anywhere. It’s like having a whole library in the palm of your hand or with a click of your mouse. With dozens of articles and helpful how-to videos in both English and Spanish, The Reading Room can serve as a helpful guide. 

To learn more about our palliative or hospice services or how we can help you navigate end-of-life care for your loved ones, call us today at (815) 398-0500.