Providing Hospice Care at Home

If you’re the primary caregiver of a loved one, you are not alone. Today in America, millions of people are providing care in the home to a seriously ill or disabled loved one. We’ve compiled a library of articles to provide support and information as your fulfill your stressful yet rewarding role as caregiver.

How to Plan for a Disaster With a Hospice Patient at Home

By now, anyone who lives in a part of the country that is prone to natural disasters or extreme weather events—and that seems to be anywhere in the country these days—should know the drill.

Woman on stretcher with caregiver outside home

Weathering a Winter Storm as a Caregiver

If the forecast calls for severe weather and you’re taking care of a seriously ill loved one, here are a few tips to help you weather the storm. In fact, Keep these tips in mind for any natural disaster, from fires to heat to hurricanes.

Demonstrations: The Dangers of Oxygen and Smoking

You've heard that mixing flames or cigarettes with medical oxygen creates a dangerous situation. Now see for yourself the dangers of smoking near an oxygen tank in this video demonstration.

How to Store Oxygen Tanks

When storing medical-grade oxygen tanks in a home, caregivers or loved ones should take precautions to ensure the safety of those nearby.

How to Travel with Oxygen in Your Car

Many hospice patients require the use of medical-grade oxygen tanks, which require special care when transporting in a car. Follow these steps to ensure the safety of yourself and those near you.

Don't put oxygen tanks loosely in a car's trunk

How to Use an Oxygen Tank

Once your physician prescribes oxygen, you may ask yourself, “How do you use a portable oxygen cylinder?” This guide explains how to safely use your oxygen cylinder at home.

How to Use Oxygen Safely at Home

Watch this video to see demonstrations, learn how to travel with and store oxygen, and hear words of wisdom from a patient who was burned by oxygen while smoking.

Turn It Off: A Patient's Advice About Oxygen and Smoking

"My wife and daughter put me out and called the ambulance," says Gary, a VITAS patient who accidentally smoked while wearing his oxygen cannula. Watch the video for his advice.

A patient described how misuse of oxygen burned him

What Happens When a Hospice Patient Dies at Home

Death is a process that begins long before we notice the signs of “active dying.” Your loved one may never experience some of these symptoms or may experience them sooner or later than indicated.

Care Where You Need It

Hospice isn't a place. The VITAS interdisciplinary hospice team delivers care to wherever you call home:

a private residence
assisted living community
nursing home

Call VITAS at 800.582.9533

How can we help you?