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Spontaneity vs Routine in Hospice and Palliative Care

As a primary hospice caregiver you may wonder which is the better approach to each day: following routines or promoting spontaneity? 

This is an excellent topic to ponder. Considering there are numerous personalities, conditions, predispositions, philosophies, and natural tendencies with both the patient and the caregiver, the answer comes with some complexity.

The first step to designing a positive hospice day is to gather factual information about the patient from the attending physician and the hospice nurse. They know the medical conditions with their implications on responding to schedules, stimulation, interaction, and time limitations for various activities.

The second step is to interview the different hospice volunteers who have visited the patient. Here you can ascertain the times of day and the types of diversions that best fit a spontaneous moment. 

The third step is to take stock of supplies and access to space for hobbies or games or other forms of entertainment.

The last step to designing a positive hospice day is paramount: assess your own personal abilities and willingness to adhere to or deviate from routine. 

If the hospice patient you are caring for is medically able to engage in hospitality and conversation, a day with invited company may offer a welcome change to the routine schedule. If they are able to take walks outdoors, maybe a picnic can stimulate positive emotions for both of you. If they deal with anxiety in crowds, possibly a quiet game of cards or some time spent on a hands-on hobby will provide a moment of respite from the daily focus of illness and discomfort. 

If your charge thrives on routine and micromanaged time slots, then consider scheduling ‘activity’ time or ‘play’ time as a normal daily expectation. These allotted times can allow for a change in activity or play without disrupting any schedule. If their personality is geared toward repetition, then changing the activity weekly instead of daily can satisfy both the need for uniformity and the need for diversification.

When physical activity is limited, consider a change in the lunch or dinner menu. For those who embrace spontaneity, surprise them with a new dessert or entre now and then.  For those who appreciate consistency, include them in planning a special meal. The lack of surprise does not discount the beauty of change. Being in control of change is often the healthiest thing for hospice patients who have no control over their demise.

Lastly, be realistic and flexible. When you assess your own natural inclinations, be willing to operate in the opposite lane for the benefit of your loved one. Schedules may annoy you, but they may bring immeasurable comfort to the one you are caring for. New and unexpected anything may frighten you, but it may offer much needed relief for your patient. Be open to seeing things their way so you can better care for them.

The answer is to find a balance between routine and spontaneity. This is a healthy approach for you, the hospice caregiver, when planning any given moment in the final days of your terminally ill friend or family member. We at Gifted Hearts Hospice and Palliative Care in Seguin, TX, offer advice and support to primary hospice caregivers. Give us a call; we can help.

Gifted Hearts Hospice and Palliative Care in Seguin, TX, is a fully staffed facility available to patients who call South Central Texas their home.  It is nestled in the beautiful New Braunfels area as the best hospice near San Antonio, Texas.  It offers palliative care for patients of any age in any stage of illness.  It also offers all four levels of hospice care and maintains its motto: “Live until you Leave.”