During a recent grocery shopping trip, I stopped in the cereal aisle. For a moment, I just looked at everything that was available — a half-dozen types of instant oatmeal; some of my favorite sugary cereals from when I was a kid; cereals made of corn, rice, wheat, and more.
I put two boxes of cereal in my cart, but what stuck with me even after I drove away from the store was the variety of choices I had.
· I could pick the least-expensive cereal.
· I could pick a cereal with a cartoon character on the box.
· I could pick the same cereal I always have.
· I could pick the same cereal I always have, except in a new strawberry flavor.
Having options means you get to make the choice that’s right for you. You have control.
It’s good to know you have a choice in breakfast cereals. It’s much more important to know you have a choice in end-of-life care.
The right option for your loved one
When your loved one is ready for palliative care or hospice care, you have options for where they can go. Their primary care provider — their doctor — may recommend a service, or you might have to pull out your phone and do some research.
At Centrica Care Navigators, it’s our responsibility to provide the services and compassionate care that your loved one needs and deserves. It’s your choice whether they’re right for you and the people who matter to you.
Of course, we’re always there to help everyone, regardless of their specific needs or their ability to pay. Even if we can’t offer the exact service that a patient might want, our extensive list of related service providers means we can get your loved one the right support while our care team continues to monitor and help their patient.
Taking the first step
We will make recommendations on ways you can help your loved one have a comfortable time in hospice care, but it’s always your choice to start or end care. How do you decide what’s right for you and the people important to you? All you need to do is call Centrica Care Navigators. We’ll talk with you about your situation and if appropriate, we’ll get someone to take that first step.
Every patient is assigned an interdisciplinary group (IDG), or care team, that consists of a hospice physician, a nurse, a hospice aide, a social worker, and a chaplain. It may also include a music therapist and a volunteer who will stop by for visits or to give you, the caregiver, a little break.
Since your loved one always has a choice in what they do and who they work with while in hospice care with Centrica Care Navigators, they may not want people in some of those roles (maybe they don’t want music therapy, or time with a chaplain, for example). That’s OK — our team is there to make every patient feel as comfortable as they can, and if they’re not the right fit, our team members can turn to another patient to support them instead.
It’s your choice
It’s your choice who offers end-of-life care for someone who’s important to you. Look around online for local care providers, and ask your loved one’s doctor for their recommendation. Learn everything you can here on CentricaCare.org.
You have options for appropriate care, but for a complete, comprehensive circle of care, you don’t have to look any further than the team at Centrica Care Navigators.
Discover more here on our website, join us on social media, or call us at 269.345.0273.
