Is it Timefor Hospice ?
Making the decision to explore hospice care can feel overwhelming. Many families wonder if it is “too soon” or “too late.” Hospice is available when treatment is no longer focused on cure and the goal becomes comfort, quality of life, and support for both the patient and their loved ones.
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Is the patient facing one of these life-limiting diseases or Conditions
The most common disease and conditions associated with hospice care, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, are:
Cancer (28%)
Cardiac and circulatory diseases (19%)
Dementia/Alzheimer’s (17%)
Respiratory diseases (11%)
Stroke (9%)
Other conditions include end-stage liver and kidney disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and other degenerative neurological diseases.
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Is the patient or loved one showing these signs of decline?
The following factors are good indicators that it’s time for hospice:
A doctor has certified the patient has six months or less to live if the condition/disease follows its normal course
Curative treatments (medications, chemotherapy, rehab, etc.) are no longer effective or create side effects that prolong suffering, discomfort and pain
The patient has decided to stop hospitalizations and treatments in favor of palliative care
The patient is increasingly unable to perform the activities of daily living (personal hygiene, dressing, eating, maintaining continence, transferring)
Loss of 10% or more of body weight
More than 3 hospitalizations or emergency room visits
Presence of other co-morbid conditions
Declining physical activity/mental alertness/cognition
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Have you taken the patient’s wishes into consideration?
A patient’s preferences for end-of-life treatment will be spelled out and easy to follow if they have an advanced care plan (ACP). This includes a living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare, or (in some states) a Five Wishes document. If the patient has made it clear that certain procedures or interventions should or should not be pursued in the face of a life-limiting illness, the hospice team can craft a care plan that honors the patient’s wishes while focusing on the quality, not the quantity, of time that remains.
If you have questions about hospice appropriateness, contact the admissions department of a local hospice. The staff should be able to answer questions or send a clinician to evaluate the patient and meet with the family at no cost. Aided by this information, you’ll have a better sense of when the time is right for hospice care.
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When Is Hospice Care Appropriate?
Hospice care is typically appropriate when a physician determines that a patient has a life-limiting illness and may have a prognosis of six months or less if the disease follows its natural course. Hospice focuses on comfort rather than curative treatment and can be provided wherever the patient lives.
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Signs it may be time
Frequent hospitalizations or emergency room visits
Increased pain or symptoms that are difficult to manage
Significant weight loss or decreased appetite
Increased weakness or sleeping most of the day
Difficulty with daily activities such as bathing or walking
Choosing comfort-focused care rather than aggressive treatment
Feeling overwhelmed as a caregiver
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Still Unsure?
If you are unsure whether hospice is appropriate, we are here to help answer your questions. Contact North Valley Hospice to speak with a member of our care team and learn more about available options.