
Families have options for hospice care in San Diego when their loved ones have terminal illnesses. Deciding which is best takes time and careful consideration.
Hospice care helps people feel comfortable and enjoy life in their final days. This is a shift from focusing on curative treatments. Receiving a diagnosis of a terminal illness and having a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease follows its expected course are the qualifications for hospice care.
In San Diego, families can choose to receive hospice care at home or in a specialized facility. Both options for hospice care have advantages and disadvantages. We will review them and provide reasons to choose each in this article.
Hospice Care at Home in San Diego

Pros of Hospice Care at Home
Comfort of Familiar Surroundings: Home is one of the most popular options for hospice care in San Diego. Care at home allows patients to remain in a space they know and love, surrounded by personal belongings, family and pets. This sense of familiarity can be deeply comforting during the final stages of life.
Personalized Care: Comfort care in San Diego homes often allows for a more personalized option for hospice care in San Diego. Care plans match the patient’s needs and preferences, with family members actively participating in decision-making.
Family Involvement: Home hospice care empowers family members to stay involved in the care process. They assist with tasks that benefit pain management and symptom management. This can create a sense of purpose and closeness, offering precious moments of connection during a difficult time.
Flexibility and Control: Families have more control over the daily schedule at home. They can adjust care based on the patient’s changing needs. They can also choose the healthcare professionals who enter the home. This creates a more consistent and trusted medical care team.
Reduced Stress: For many, the idea of a hospital or facility can be anxiety-inducing. Staying at home reduces the stress of moving to an unfamiliar environment. This is particularly beneficial for patients with dementia or cognitive impairments.
Cons of Comfort Care at Home
Physical and Emotional Demands on Family: Care at home offers many emotional benefits but can burden family members. They may need to take on caregiving responsibilities. This is physically and emotionally taxing, especially if the patient’s condition requires round-the-clock care.
Overcoming this requires careful consideration of the patient’s home care needs. The best way to handle this is through coordination with medical and hospice professionals. They help ease burdens for family caregivers.
Limited Access to Specialized Equipment: Home hospice providers in San Diego supply necessary medical equipment for their patients. This is part of the covered benefit.
However, the equipment may not always match the level of equipment available in a facility. This could be a limitation for patients with complex medical needs.
Speaking with the patient’s doctor is important. A complete hospice care evaluation is also beneficial. This will ensure that the equipment is suitable for the patient’s needs. This keeps them safe and comfortable.
Potential for Social Isolation: San Diego hospice care patients who live further away from family can face isolation. Home hospice care providers’ volunteers spend time with patients and help them overcome this. Hospice staff also assists patients in using digital resources to remain in contact with distant family caregivers.
Hospice Care in a Facility in San Diego

Pros of Hospice Care in a Facility
Access to Specialized Care: Hospice facilities are equipped with specialized medical equipment and staffed by San Diego comfort care professionals. The patient never depends on one nurse or social worker to provide care, as facilities take a team approach. This ensures that the patient can access the highest level of care at all times.
24/7 Professional Support: In a facility, patients can access round-the-clock care from a team of healthcare professionals, including nurses and social workers. Doctors also visit frequently and are typically on call for emergencies. This can provide peace of mind for the patient and their family.
Respite for Family Members: Choosing a hospice facility in San Diego County can relieve family members of the day-to-day caregiving responsibilities, allowing them to focus on spending quality time with their loved ones without the added stress of managing care.
Social Interaction: Patients in hospice facilities may benefit from social interactions with other patients and staff. However, it is sometimes more challenging for family members to visit due to distance or time constraints of visitation hours.
Cons of Comfort Care in a Facility
Unfamiliar Environment: Moving to a facility can be disorienting and stressful for hospice patients, particularly those who are already vulnerable due to their illness or cognitive limitations. The unfamiliar surroundings of a San Diego facility can lead to anxiety, increased pain, restlessness and discomfort.
Less Personalization: While hospice care facilities in San Diego strive to provide compassionate hospice care, they may not offer the same level of personalization as home hospice care in San Diego. Patients may need to adjust to the facility’s routines and policies. Support is seldom one-on-one in the same way as in-home hospice care.
Distance from Family: Depending on the facility’s location, family members may have to travel to visit their loved ones, which can reduce the frequency and spontaneity of visits.
Higher Costs: While the cost of hospice care is covered by Medicare, MediCal and most insurance benefits, choosing a facility can be more expensive than hospice care at home for a San Diego family.
If the facility is further away, the family must consider gas and lodging expenses. The family caregiver may have to take time off work to visit their loved one during visiting hours. If there are children in the house, it is sometimes necessary to arrange and pay for childcare. This can be a significant consideration for families with limited financial resources.
The Advantages of Hospice Care at Home in San Diego

For families who are considering options for hospice care in San Diego, the decision often comes down to the desire to provide a peaceful, comfortable environment. This benefits their loved ones during their final days.
Maintaining control over the care process, the comfort of familiar surroundings and the opportunity for close family involvement often outweigh the potential challenges of caregiving. While it’s important to consider the specific needs of the patient and the capabilities of the family, the benefits of home hospice care in San Diego make it a compelling option for many.
In making this decision, families should consult with healthcare professionals and hospice providers in San Diego. This is the time to discuss options and develop a care plan that best meets their loved one’s needs. Home or facility hospice ensures patients experiences a high quality of life and freedom from pain and discomfort.
Salus Homecare and Hospice in San Diego provides accredited hospice care in the comfort of home. Our professional doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and volunteers improve the quality of life for your loved one. This allows you to focus on spending time with them creating memories when the end of life is near.
Contact Salus Hospice San Diego 24 hours a day and seven days a week with questions or to schedule an assessment.