When Is It Time For Hospice?
Receiving specialized hospice care early in the process of an incurable illness can often have a real impact on pain relief, symptom management, anxiety, fatigue, and depression.
Among those benefits, choosing hospice care at the right time also affords patients the gift of time. During this time, they can come to terms with their current state and declining future. They can spend time reminiscing, saying goodbyes, getting their affairs in order and focusing on quality of life at the end.
This also benefits and relieves healthcare professionals, caregivers, and families of the crises, stress, and challenges of worsening symptoms and situations as a patient declines.
Unfortunately, too many families and even healthcare professionals are left with the feeling that they should’ve chosen hospice just a little sooner.
How Do I Know?
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) estimates that the most common disease and conditions associated with hospice care are:
How To Talk To Family
