What Our Hospice Patients & Their Families Need to Know
People often see hospice as “THE END!” I have heard many times, “I’m not ready to give up!” or “If I start hospice they will drug me up with morphine and I will die.” Death is scary. At any age, facing our own mortality is incredibly difficult but hospice is, in reality, a support system. It is a safe network of individuals that dedicate their profession to focusing on LIFE!
How can we provide the best quality of life for our hospice patients? How can we help obtain resources to aid those that care for these patients? We empower patients and families to use their voice and we constantly re-evaluate goals and the needs of our hospice patients and families.
Cost is usually a major concern our patients and families have, but it is a little known fact that the Medicare Part A Benefit completely covers hospice. It is an unlimited benefit as long as the patient continues to meet criteria. Private insurance? No problem most private insurances cover hospice at the same level as Medicare, but may have a deductible that will need met first.
Moving back to the morphine statement. Sure, morphine is a popular medication in hospice because it helps with multiple symptoms. But contrary to popular belief, when a patient comes on to hospice care we might actually end up discontinuing quite a few medications. Our goal is to focus only on comfort medications, though we always refer back to the patient’s wishes. You want to continue your vitamin regimen, sure go right ahead.
“Hospice has come a long way, evolving in a positive direction.”
Hospice neither prevents nor hastens death, we simply provide support and resources to make this difficult, scary and sometimes painful transition of life as easy as possible. Sometimes the fear is palpable, but we understand that fear manifests in different ways and we help our hospice patients work through these emotions and reservations. Hospice, as with other forms of healthcare, has come a long way, evolving in a positive direction. It seems to me that today’s healthcare system could take a lot of pointers from hospice. Something I have always thought unfortunate in healthcare is that, the majority of our time in our western culture, we have to wait until the end of our life to be cared for holistically, which places attention on mind, body and spirit. All of these aspects of existence are important and connected. Hospice addresses all these areas with a specialized team that consists of nurses, physicians, counselors and chaplains. Experts in their fields come together to ensure that all needs are addressed.
“It is a little known fact that the Medicare Part A Benefit completely covers hospice.”
Collaboration is essential and required with the Medicare benefit. These meetings are known as IDTs, or interdisciplinary team meetings. The patient is the number one priority, but our support extends to the family as well. After all, they are greatly affected and benefit tremendously from having a solid support system. It is important that we are aware of how the family is coping with their roles in caring for our hospice patients. Anyone who has ever cared for a loved one understands how difficult and taxing it can, be both mentally and physically. Caregiver fatigue can be very serious and our team may offer to step in and provide respite care, which is a short reprieve for the family. Families can still visit with the patient but it allows them to step away from the caregiving role and just be a family member again. For every last one of us, there will come a day where we say our goodbyes and draw our last breath. Just because our patient has passed on doesn’t mean that we automatically discontinue support to our families. Bereavement services are available to make sure that they are coping with their loss as healthily as possible.
When I tell people I work for hospice, I usually get the same few responses: “How depressing, I don’t know how you could do that,” and, “It takes special people to do that, I could never.” I would be lying if I said it was easy. Some days it is beyond difficult. But at the end of that day, we provide comfort for hospice patients and their families, and that just feels awesome! They are absolutely right, because it does take special people. Some of the most amazing nurses and CNA’s, counselors, chaplains, physicians and all the levels of administrative support give so much back to the patients and families. We do it because it is a calling and a passion. We put ourselves on the front line at the most difficult time in our patients’ and their families’ lives because they deserve our support. It is a privilege to walk this journey with them. Acknowledging that the end of life is near is not easy, by any means, but getting through it with hospice support makes it so much easier. You are not alone because we are here to lean on. By better understanding the role hospice provides, and hopefully debunking some myths or fears regarding hospice, we only hope we can reach more of the hospice patients and families who need us.
Sold Out hospice stories on our hospice blog
Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding hospice care
