Caregiver Services

Services and support for the Caregiver

Hospice of the Valley not only provides the best care to the person with dementia, but to the caregiver as well. In addition to respite care and spiritual support, we offer information on recognizing and managing grief, creating enriching interactions with your loved one no matter the stage of their illness, and bereavement services following death.

H.O.M.E. Program

Hospice of the Valley's Helping Our Memory-Impaired Elders (H.O.M.E.) Program is a service designed to help families and persons with dementia achieve the highest quality of life possible while effectively managing behaviors in a safe home environment. The program provides education and home visits by a nurse, social worker, and occupational therapist to patients that are Medicare eligible, primarily homebound, but not yet eligible for full hospice services. People are on the H.O.M.E. program for an average of two to three months.

Respite Care

Providing care to a person with dementia is a long-term obligation. There may be a time when the caregiver simply needs a rest, or is unable to be with the patient at home for another reason. Hospice of the Valley has inpatient hospice homes Valley wide where the patient can stay for up to five days.

Caregiver Grief

Families and friends devote a significant amount of time, as well as emotional and financial resources, to caring for the person with dementia. On average, most caregivers are actively involved in providing or overseeing care for six to eight years. The significant losses caused by dementia are gradual, and the caregiver often begins the grieving process during the course of the disease.

You do not need to feel alone as a caregiver. Hospice of the Valley social workers are available to assist caregivers with processing grief, accessing community resources, finding respite care and connecting with a volunteer.

Consider the following ideas which actual caregivers of loved ones with dementia have found helpful to cope with grief and loss:

Sharing feelings with a friend or confidant
Keeping a journal
Writing poetry
Maintaining friendships, hobbies and activities outside of caregiving duties

Another idea is to put together a scrapbook or "Memory Book." This can be therapeutic for family and friends as they remember the person with dementia prior to developing the disease. The Memory Book can help loved ones to reminisce and journal about fond memories. Consider sharing this book with others, such as professional caregivers, so they can better know the person.

Making Connections with your Loved One

Visiting the person with advanced dementia can be difficult for friends and family. Due to the losses of meaningful verbal communication skills and memories, visits can be uncomfortable and silent. While your old ways of communication may not work, it is possible to find new ways to communicate and stay connected. Tapping into old and familiar social skills as well as using sensory approaches allow connections to be made. Remain open to the possibilities. Share what works with your family and friends so they can also enhance communication with the person.