Importance Of Hospice

The Importance of an Early Hospice Admission

Hospice care is a patient centered approach to end of life diagnoses. Hospice care is provided at the end of life to patients with a terminal diagnosis of six months or less to live. After a terminal diagnosis, an early admission of at least three months prior to death can be beneficial to patients and families. An early admission benefits the family and the patient by providing a patient centered approach to care, and relief from pain. Strong relationships with the care team are a key component to the success of hospice.

History has shown that hospice has become a very important part of our lives and deaths. In the 18th and 19th centuries as medicine slowly took over from home remedies and home

With a lifespan of six months or less, naturally one will be crazy with worry, looking for ways to manage what is left of their lives. Hospice is about acceptance, kindness, families and caring, as well as pain management and comfort.

Research shows that hospice care allows people with terminal diagnosis to live longer (History of Hospice Care). A 2007 study was done, looking at some common causes of death and found that people lived an average of twenty-nine days longer using hospice. This study looked at 4,493 patients (Connor et al. 241). If patients didn’t receive hospice and in particular an early admission they would not have been able to extend their life.

Certainly, the thought of giving up on treatment can be a challenge. For this reason, patients, families and physicians might not feel ready, since in reality it means talking about dying and that can be difficult. A patient who does choose hospice would need to stop pursuing treatment that could prolong their life. This can be a challenge for families, as there is a perception that the patient is giving up on life, when in fact they are choosing quality of life over

Kum Martin outlines the challenges that are faced by families and patients in “Some Disadvantages of Hospice Care”. Martin reviews the difficult facts that the family might experience while they are left helpless and ultimately responsible for their family members’ end of life care. Martin asserts that families are faced with providing care and need to stop everything else they are doing in order to care for their loved one.

Providing round-the-clock care can be difficult, as many patients who chose hospice are no longer eligible to receive care at the hospital. This means they must be discharged and return home (Martin). This presents the family with providing the care themselves or paying for private services. This cost can be prohibitive for a person on Medicare.

People want to plan for their lives, not plan for their deaths. Talking or even thinking about hospice and advanced illnesses can be difficult. According to an article by Leah Eskenazi “Why hospice care could benefit your loved one sooner than you think”, Eskenazi explains that some people feel just thinking about hospice can hasten death and cause someone to die sooner. She goes on to say that adult children are concerned about their parents thinking they are being pushed to the side, when in reality there are many options including a robust support system for the patient and family. Hospice can also include respite care for the family by providing