Hospice Is Not About Quitting

Hospice is focused on doing the very best that you can with the circumstances present.  After it is established that no cure exists for the illness of a loved one, the idea of “hope” takes on a different meaning.  There is a shift in the paradigm of hope, as it then means to do everything possible in order to satisfy the loved one’s wishes and to reduce their pain and suffering.  The focus shifts to comfort care provided in the familiar environment of their home, with family and friends near.

Hospice is the Next Critical Step of Care in the Continuum 

When clinical providers have come to the point where nothing more can be done for a patient, because there is no imminent cure for a particular condition, hospice care offers the next critical step of care in the continuum.  Contributing to the quality of life for the patient and their family is of the utmost priority, and hospice allows for goals related to quality of life to be met.

Focus Shifted to Spending Quality Time

It is likely that before a terminal diagnosis is reached, the patient’s loved ones are consumed with various concerns such as physician appointments, evaluation of possible treatments and cures, attempting to manage pain and symptoms, and more.  Upon finalizing and accepting a diagnosis, utilizing hospice care can provide an extremely significant relief, where spending quality time can be the new focus for loved ones and the patient can receive the quality care they deserve.

Solicited Care

When patients with terminal illness elect to utilize hospice care, the additional care can allow for patients to potentially live a bit longer than those who do not receive hospice care.  With the comfort associated with living at home, surrounded by loved ones, hospice patients can also experience a strong sense of relief, and furthermore, more control and choice within their circumstances.  The differentiated, and specialized care that is provided by the hospice interdisciplinary team can not only reduce suffering, but also allow the patient and their loved ones to spend more quality time together, and ultimately give back to the patient a sense of dignity.

Enrolling in hospice care is not giving up!  Hospice care is another aspect of patient-centered care within the continuum that provides to patients and their families the support they need to live their final days at home with an improved quality of life, and surrounded by those they care most about.