The family of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter made an announcement recently that following a series of short hospital stays, he is forgoing further medical treatment, has returned home, and entered hospice care.
What is hospice care? Hospice is a comprehensive, holistic program of care and support for terminally ill patients and their families. Hospice care changes the focus to comfort care (palliative care) for pain relief, symptom management, and quality of life instead of care to cure the patient’s illness. (SOURCE: CMS.gov)
According to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, over 1.7 million Medicare beneficiaries received hospice care last year. Experts believe this number should be higher, though hospice care is often misunderstood. Let’s look at the most common myths and learn the facts.
MYTH #1: Hospice is a death sentence and accelerates death. The primary difference between hospice and a traditional medical care approach is that the focus is on comfort and well-being rather than cure. People who use hospice do not die faster. In fact, patients who engage hospice care may actually live longer because their quality of life is improved.
MYTH #2: Hospice means you’ve lost hope and are giving up. A person’s comfort and dignity near life’s end is the center of hospice care. When someone has a terminal illness, or fails to thrive, and medical intervention is not an option or is ineffective, supporting quality of life, providing comfort, pain management, peace, and connection can an incredible gift. The goal is to support and provide the highest quality of life possible with the patient’s remaining time.
MYTH #3: Hospice is a place. Hospice is a philosophy of care. It can be provided wherever the patient and their family prefer. This includes, as in the case of President Carter, at home; in a senior living or long-term care community, if that is where the patient is a resident; or through an in-patient hospice if needed.
MYTH #4: Hospice is for cancer patients only. Hospice is for any person coping with the end-stage of any chronic disease, such as kidney failure, Alzheimer’s, or other life-limiting condition. It is also appropriate for someone who is experiencing failure to thrive, a decline seen in older adults with multiple chronic medical conditions. “To qualify for hospice care, the patient much have an incurable medical condition with an anticipated life expectancy of less than six months,” says Dr. Leana Wen, CNN Medical Analyst.
MYTH #5: Hospice is only useful for administering pain meds. Hospice care focuses on the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical care. Medication can be administered to mitigate pain and manage symptoms, but hospice is so much more. Hospice care usually consists of your own caregiver, such as a family member or friend, along with scheduled visits from a hospice team: specialized nurse, social worker, chaplain, and volunteers. Other aspects of hospice that patients find helpful include massage and music therapy. Family caregivers can benefit from caregiving respite provided by volunteers. Hospice is palliative, to ease suffering, and lessen pain and symptoms.
MYTH #6: Hospice is for people whose death is hours or a few days away. Many families wish their loved one had received hospice care earlier in their illness or decline. Hospice care can be accessed up to six months before an expected death. This gives patients time with family, friends, and pets, and the possibility of extended support from the hospice interdisciplinary team. Although hospice care neither hastens death nor prolongs life, studies show that patients with certain illnesses live somewhat longer with hospice care than those with the same illness who don’t choose hospice care.
Have questions about hospice care? Contact Aging Wisdom and one of our Aging Life Care ProfessionalsTM can provide answers. With an objective perspective on any situation, we can facilitate discussions and decision-making to address concerns. To meet with an Aging Wisdom Aging Life Care Professional, schedule a get-acquainted call.
