Many people wonder if hospice is only for older adults. This makes sense, because if you visit a hospice facility, you will see that most of the patients are, in fact, elderly. However, like the general population, most people who die are elderly, but not all. Suncrest Home Health and Hospice of Fremont accepts and treats patients of all ages.
What Ages Are Hospice Patients?
Statistics show that the vast majority of deaths in the U.S. are among those age 85 and older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. is accidents. Homicides and suicides are also prevalent in this age group. Other less common causes of death among teens include heart disease and cancer. Many heart problems are undiagnosed in teens and are only discovered after their deaths.
For this reason, we see few teens and children in hospice.
Readiness to Die
Another reason fewer patients in hospice are under age 50 is because these patients tend to want to fight their disease more aggressively. Many elderly patients who are suffering from cancer or another terminal illness are tired and may even feel ready to die.
They have lived many years and accomplished many things. Perhaps they have gotten married, raised their children and helped raise their grandchildren. They may have worked many years and retired. They may have started a family business and handed the reins to a child or another family member. While they may not have chosen to die at this point in their lives, they may be more comfortable with it than someone younger would be.
Terminal patients in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s may feel less ready to die. Some may have young children at home. This is one of the main incentives for terminal patients to fight their illness, no matter how difficult it is.
The Relief of Entering Hospice
Undergoing treatment for terminal illness can be painful and difficult. Recovering from surgery is a challenge, and takes longer when patients are not healthy. Chemotherapy can be exhausting, causing patients to sleep many hours per day. It can also be nauseating, causing vomiting, weight loss and disinterest in eating.
Likewise, radiation can cause extreme fatigue. Both radiation and chemotherapy can cause hair loss. Dialysis can cause fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea, dizziness, itchy skin and more. It’s understandable patients would eventually lose their motivation to continue these therapies.
But some younger patients are driven to hang on so they can witness a particular event, such as a graduation, wedding or the birth of their grandchild. We have seen patients with such a strong will to live that against all odds, they make it to a special event, a holiday such as Christmas or an important birthday.
After this, they may choose to discontinue treatment and live out their last days in comfort, aided only by pain-relieving medications such as morphine. That’s what hospice is for, regardless of age.
Suncrest Home Health and Hospice of Fremont
If you live in the Fremont or San Jose area and your loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, talk to the team at Suncrest Home Health and Hospice of Fremont about when the right time is to enter hospice care. We’re here to help.
