Hospice: A Caring Decision?

If you have ever been in the position as the sole or primary decision maker in the matter of healthcare for a loved one, you are no doubt aware of the tangled emotions that can ensue. While it’s easy to get clinical and say if a person is 99 years old and has conditions a, b, and c then the family should just “let go” the realities are anything but simple. There may be the matter of promises made to care for the relative or parent at home. The caregiver may be ailing but feel a sense of responsibility or truly believe no one else can provide the care that is needed. Finances may be another determinant i.e. the social security check is a part of the overall household budget and placing the person in an institution would create a considerable gap. Last, there may be no money at all: neither to hire additional help to provide the caregiver with needed respite nor to pay for placement in a nursing home or similar facility.

When a number of these factors converge and end of life issues also come into play, hospice may be the best solution. Unfortunately, for all the literature and the attempts at explanation, hospice remains a fearful mystery to those who would most benefit from the service. Even some doctors are apt to think hospice is equivalent to sending a patient home to die. Consequently, there are physicians who will under no circumstance agree to a hospice consult for their patient. I do not now or have I ever worked for hospice. But Vitas, one of the nation’s largest providers, gives a pretty clear explanation of what their services entail.

In one of their newer publications Vitas asks: If you or your loved one were facing a life-limiting illness, would you know what options are available to you and your family? It then goes on to describe hospice as a treatment modality offering aggressive treatment of physical and emotional pain associated with end of life care. This is also known as palliative care i.e. to provide comfort measures instead of the treatment extremes necessary in some cases, when a cure is being pursued. Perhaps most surprising is the statistics citing that as much as 75% of all Americans, given the choice, would prefer to die at home in familiar surroundings. Hospice allows that option when a cure is no longer possible.

When should one consider hospice? As much as months before death is imminent — people have been known to be on hospice for as much as a year before end of life. The care team may include doctors, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplain, bereavement specialist and volunteers. Most importantly, Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance policies provide for hospice care, at no extra cost to the patient or family. Doctors make home visits and nurses are often provided around the clock for crisis care. Finally, hospice care is not complicated and is usually tailored to the patient and family’s need. Who qualifies for service? Anyone of any age with any life limiting illness, can receive hospice care. In addition, care does not end with the death of the patient as bereavement support for the family may continue for more than a year.

These days I am talking a lot about #not #giving #up which is not the same as not needing help. The trick is learning the facts, using available resources, and realizing whatever your challenge, you are #not #alone.