For the same reasons that out-patient treatment has become more widespread, home care is becoming an important part of oncology care. There are now a variety of home care agencies that are staffed by oncology or palliative care nurses.
Care in the Home Nurses can spend anywhere from a few hours to 24 hours in your home. Some chemotherapy can be given at home. Under the direction of the oncologist , the oncology nurse can provide you with wound care, central venous (CV) line care and teaching, intravenous (IV) hydration, IV antibiotics and total IV nutrition.
Hospice and Palliative Care Hospice and palliative care can be important alternatives if your cancer becomes very advanced. In the terminal stage of cancer, hospice care gives you the choice of spending the final days not at a hospital but at home with loved ones by your side.
Special palliative care units are also available that provide an alternative to the home setting. These are discussed in detail in another section ( see Palliative Care ) .
Hospice and palliative care nurses teach family and friends how to care for their loved ones and decrease their distress. Together with social workers and clergy, they also help the family deal with the impending death and handle the bereavement period that follows. During that time, the hospice nurse spends many hours with the family and is available at all hours of the day or night.
