When Should You Call Hospice?
Written by: Lisa Susice, MSN, RN, Director of Patient Services
Q. Do I have to wait for my doctor to talk to me about hospice? No, anyone can reach out to us to learn more about our services, to discuss the health of a potential patient, or to simply seek support about the unknown.
Q. What are the benefits of calling hospice sooner? Hospice offers many benefits for the patient and his circle of support. Nurses, experienced in end-of-life care, visit from once weekly to daily. The nurse helps manage the disease progression, while working to ensure the patient is as comfortable as possible with medications, non-pharmaceutical activities, or by guiding caregivers (yes, this can positively affect patients). Although nurses focus on medical, they can directly address, or refer to other team members, a variety of issues. Social workers assist with securing valuable community resources to promote peace of mind. They can also help navigate the family discord often brought about when a loved one is at the end of life. There is an option for our chaplain to provide spiritual support, religious or non-religious based, to ensure the journey is as peaceful as possible. Volunteers can stay with a patient while caregivers tend to their own needs (medical appointments, shopping, napping, or lawn work, etc.). Hospice can also help offset the costs of medications (related to the terminal diagnosis), medical equipment, supplies, etc., used in the stellar care provided by our staff.
Q. Will hospice make my loved one die sooner? This is a common myth about hospice. It’s important to keep in mind, the disease will progress with or without us; our goal is quality of life, for as long as possible.
Q. How do I talk to my doctor about hospice? It makes sense to want your doctor to agree hospice care is the right choice. You can start by asking: “What quality of life will the treatment plan bring?”. “Will the medications and other suggestions really bring quality of life, or just quantity?”
Q. Will hospice support me as a caregiver? Of course! We consider the patient not only the person in the bed, but the entire circle of support … family, friends, caregivers, and other loved ones.
Q. How do I bring up hospice with my loved one? Start with asking your loved one what his goals are regarding: pain, hospital stays, doctor visits, where to pass, and support for caregivers and loved ones. If the answers align with the previous information, ask if she would ever consider hospice, then share the information. It is important for those capable of understanding our services to know a referral is being made.
Q. What if I don’t call hospice? There are no penalties for not calling hospice, but the benefits are many. Not calling hospice, or calling too late can delay start of a wonderful support system for everyone. Give us a call to learn more.
SIGNS IT MAY BE TIME
Multiple trips to emergency room or hospital stays
Increased pain, difficult to treat
More short of breath
Decreased appetite
Sudden mental difficulty/confusion
More tired/ increased sleep
The doctor talks about hospice care
Most of day spent in chair or bed
Increased falls over the last 6 months
Needs more help with bathing, dressing, eating, standing up, or walking
Significant weight loss
Feelings of impending doom
Hallucinations of deceased loved ones
Unexplained, new depression/anxiety
More withdrawn