Patients and families continually tell us they wish they had considered hospice care sooner. It is a common misconception that hospice is only for the last few days of life when in fact, hospice works best when initiated early on, in the final weeks or even months of life.
The decision to choose hospice is a very personal one. Though it is an individual’s choice, it directly involves not only the individual, but their physician, family and loved ones who may serve as caregivers. Hospice care is unique so there are a few things you should consider. Hospice provides expertise in palliative or ‘comfort’ care offering the patient state-of-the-art pain control and sophisticated symptom management. Hospice enables patients to focus on living, offering days free from pain where life triumphs over illness and it becomes about living. Hospice encourages families to remain together, with hospice care, most patients have the option of remaining in their home among family and friends. Should remaining at home not be the best option, we have inpatient units designed in a home like setting that also focus on the quality of life.
Hospice services can begin when a patient’s physician determines that the patient’s life expectancy is 6 months or less should the disease follow its natural course. But that is not to say hospice care ends after the initial six month period, if it is still needed. Patients are constantly reevaluated and care can extend as long as the patient’s condition continues to decline.
Though your physician should serve as your guide, they may not recommend hospice early enough or as early as they would like to. Sometimes physicians feel their patients may not be ready to consider hospice and suggesting hospice is dashing their hopes. They may assume that the patient and family want them to continue aggressive treatments or with some diseases like congestive heart failure, it may be very difficult to determine life expectancy.
Remember you can recommend hospice care to your physician. Often physicians will welcome having the opportunity to have a conversation about hospice with their patients. If you are considering hospice but unsure if it is time, here are some signs you can look for to help determine if it maybe time to approach the hospice decision.
- Does it seem that treatment is no longer helping?
- Are there repeated visits to the ER or hospital?
- Is there an increase shortness of breath, fatigue, pain, or nausea?
- Does the patient seem more distant, withdrawn or sleeping a lot?
- Does the patient struggle more and more with activities like walking, eating, bathing, dressing or going to the toilet?
- Is the process of caregiving becoming overwhelming?
- Do members of the family seem to need emotional support to cope with the situation and impending the death?
- Are you feeling physically and emotionally exhausted?
- Are the caregiving duties making you feel isolated?
- Would it seem beneficial to have someone to talk to?
If hospice seems like an option, we encourage you to speak with your physician. We are also happy to schedule a free in home evaluation to help determine if it is time for hospice care. Call us at 800-569-1348 to schedule a visit or for us to help you with any questions you may have about hospice care.