Guidelines for End of Life Care in the Home During the Pandemic

To address some of the challenges of the present time, Avenidas of Palo Alto is providing guidelines from our Care Forum experts. The guidelines were produced in collaboration with the Avenidas Care Partners staff.

We are sharing these guidelines with you in case a loved one is in crisis and or you wish to think these matters through with a friend–or with your physician.

Summary of Dr. Brown’s Tips

1. Hold online family meetings: it is important to let your loved ones and your designated decision-makers know your values and wishes about treatment options should you develop COVID-19. 
2. Keep your physicians informed of critical changes in your health care.
3. Have your POLST- (Physician’s Orders for Life Saving Treatment) posted on your refrigerator.
4. If you wish to have either palliative care or home hospice care, notify your physician of these requests.
5. Private-pay caregivers from home care agencies work in support of palliative and home hospice care but are not part of the palliative care and home hospice team.
6. Both hospice and palliative care teams ensure that the necessary comfort medications are available in the home should you decide to remain at home and not be hospitalized.
7. There are medications for shortness of breath, pain, nausea, anxiety, etc. that can be ordered and monitored by nurses from the hospice or palliative care teams.