The real meaning — and services — of hospice care

Diane Dennis, RN

 

Myth: Hospice hastens death.

 

Fact: When utilized earlier in the disease and dying process, hospice services often prolong and almost always significantly improve quality of life.

 

One of the most valuable and often underutilized resources Medicare offers is Hospice Care. Hospice offers weekly nurse case management visits, medical management, education, bath aides, medications, equipment and durable goods sent directly to the home. The latter can be painful for families to deal with. Also provided: emotional and spiritual support for the family facing their loved one’s end of life.

 

Even when their person’s health declines and all treatment options have been exhausted, bringing in hospice care seems — to family — like giving up on their loved one. Conjured are visions of their loved one lying in bed medicated and unconscious. This perception is tightly wrapped up in the denial of grief.

 

Physicians — in an effort to try everything they can to help a patient and treat their disease — often hold off suggesting hospice care until they have evidence the family is ready to face the approaching end of their person’s life. Ironically, Hospice services, when utilized earlier in the disease and dying process often prolongs life and almost always significantly improves the person’s quality of life.

 

It is a myth that hospice hastens death. It is also a myth that one must be at the six-month mark preceding end of life to receive services. No one can predict exactly how long someone will live, even when they are determined to be at the terminal stage of their disease or dying process. Therefore, hospice services are often extended a few or several times in six-month increments. It is during this time that the family and patient are receiving the best attentive care possible.

 

Hospice case managers are on call 24/7 and there is not a question they cannot or will not answer. Those in the field know that losing a loved one is the biggest strain on a family unit, often involving quibbling, or disputes regarding care. Those in hospice care are trained to provide support for all involved, in every possible scenario.

 

Perhaps the most unknown benefit of hospice care is that it doesn’t end when a person dies. After death, hospice service remains a valuable resource for family members who want or need continuing counseling and or pastoral support for up to a year.

 

Diane Dennis RN is a Geriatric Case Manager and owner of Age at Home

Service. Contact her at diane@ageathomeservice.com