As the summer months near, home hospice patients and their caregivers must strive to maintain an ideal indoor environment. Rising temperatures and increased humidity necessitate proper cooling, ventilation, and overall comfort measures for end-of-life care patients to ensure they can maintain quality of life throughout their end stages of care.

Here are a few ideas to help keep you or your loved one more comfortable this summer:

1. Temperature and Humidity Control

   One of the primary goals during the summer months should be managing indoor temperature and humidity levels to minimize symptoms, discomfort, and dehydration for hospice patients. Excessive heat or humidity could worsen symptoms or create potential health complications.

   To address these challenges, ensuring a reliable air conditioning system or other cooling methods are in place is of vital importance. Servicing and maintaining HVAC units regularly will ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency while providing a comfortable indoor temperature environment.

   Portable air conditioners or fans may provide effective alternatives in homes without central air conditioning, especially when strategically placed near where patients spend most of their time. Sun-blocking window coverings can also help minimize solar heat gain while keeping rooms cooler during the day.

   Monitoring and controlling humidity levels are equally as crucial. Excessive humidity can make the air feel warmer and oppressive, potentially exacerbating respiratory issues or discomfort. Dehumidifiers or moisture-absorbing products are invaluable in maintaining ideal levels for creating a more pleasant indoor environment.

2. Ventilation and Air Quality

   Proper ventilation plays an essential role in creating an uplifting indoor environment during the hotter summer months. Stale or stagnant air can contribute to lethargy, discomfort, and potential respiratory complications in hospice patients.

   Opening windows or using exhaust fans to circulate fresh air and rid homes of stagnant air can help increase circulation. But it's essential to balance ventilation with temperature and humidity regulation; so that incoming warm outdoor air doesn't counteract the efforts you made at cooling off your home.

   Homeowners with central air conditioning systems should regularly change their filters and conduct ductwork maintenance for optimal air quality and system efficiency.

3. Personal Preferences

   Communicating openly with patients and caregivers is essential in understanding their unique needs and preferences, so this data can be used to make decisions regarding cooling methods, ventilation strategies and environmental adjustments to maximize comfort and wellbeing for all concerned.

   Some patients may feel hotter or colder than other family members due to their unique health conditions, so this should be taken into consideration. Having a variety of different sheets or blankets, or fans or other cooling options available is important so you can help them adjust their environment at a moment’s notice.

4. Bring Summer Indoors Without the Heat!

   While providing summer hospice care requires maintaining comfortable temperatures and air quality, creating a relaxing and soothing atmosphere can also increase overall comfort. Engaging your senses through subtle sensory experiences can bring comfort, familiarity, relaxation, and relief from stress.

   As an example, gentle aromatherapy with cooling scents like peppermint or lemon can create a refreshing environment. Soft nature-inspired sounds such as the trickling of a desktop fountain or soothing nature recordings can transport patients into an idyllic, tranquil state of mind and bring summer inside when the patient can’t go outdoors.

At Coastal, we recognize the importance of creating an inviting indoor environment for summer hospice care is more than physical comfort alone - it must also foster an atmosphere of support and nurture. Our team works closely with caregivers and family members in providing guidance, resources and practical solutions tailored specifically for them and their unique challenges and concerns.

By taking into account temperature, humidity, ventilation, and sensory experiences in their home environments, we can create an inviting oasis that allows the patient and their family to be comfortable and focus on more important things.