When is it time to consider hospice care?
As a Cleveland hospice agency, that’s a question we hear quite frequently. And in many cases, people immediately say that they aren’t sure they’re ready.
When it comes to serious illnesses and fatal diseases, there are few easy answers. However, if someone you hold dear is nearing the end of life, you can equip yourself with the knowledge to make empowered decisions. The right time for hospice may be now – here’s what you need to know.
Readiness for Hospice Care
Hospice care is a fully covered Medicare benefit for individuals with a terminal diagnosis and a life expectancy of six months or less.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is actively dying or even that they will pass away within that time frame – it just means that given the normal progression of the diagnosed condition and the treatments available, six months is doctor’s best guess as to the amount of time they have left.
What does that mean for you? If a loved one has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness or fatal condition, it’s time to have a conversation about hospice care. The average patient only receives services for a fraction of the time available, and by discussing the matter now, you and your loved one can explore the care options, discuss future goals and make informed decisions moving forward.
Making the Most of Every Moment
The loss of close friend or family member is never easy to face – and in our experience as hospice professionals, no one is completely ready to say their final goodbyes.
Therefore, the conversation with your loved one should focus less on readiness for hospice care and more on planning for the next several months. What are their goals? How should they proceed? Is it time to accept that the end is near – or should everyone continue to have hope for a full recovery?
Hope for the future fuels our desire to live, and hope is deep-rooted in the human mind. However, hoping for a cure when faced with a fatal disease and a limited life expectancy often sets people up for heartache and disappointment. Finding a cure isn’t always possible, and for anyone suffering the stress and disagreeable symptoms that come with a serious illness, priorities can change.
Hospice care is designed to help terminally ill individuals live life to the fullest, in comfort, and while entering hospice does mean ending the hunt for a cure, that may very well be the right choice at some point soon.
Enjoying More Time in Hospice Care
More than a few studies have proven the value of entering hospice early on after being diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. As research shows, hospice care services can actually prolong survival.
Yes, that’s right – people who choose hospice care live an average of 29 days longer than those who don’t. The reason? With hospice, pain and suffering are minimized, as symptoms are kept under control. And most patients are able to receive hospice care at home, enjoying the comforts of familiar surroundings, pets and loved ones nearby.
Yet there’s a huge discrepancy between the time the average patient receives hospice services – 97 days, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization – and the amount of time covered under the Medicare hospice benefit.
Eligible patients can receive hospice services for two 90-day benefit periods, for a total of 180 days. But following that, Medicare covers an unlimited number of 60-day benefit periods. As long as a doctor continues to certify a patient’s eligibility, services can continue unimpeded. And the sooner your loved one enters hospice care, the more likely it will be that they can enjoy more time than the average patient.
Is Hospice Care the Answer for Your Loved One?
Many people in Cleveland and elsewhere believe that continuing to fight for a cure is always the right choice, even when treatment becomes a burden. But with a loved one in need of help, you shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the available options.
Whether or not entering hospice is the right decision today, knowledge is power. Learning about the benefits of hospice care at home, the alternatives and the types of services offered in northeast Ohio can help ensure that your loved one has the information they need to live out their remaining time on their own terms.
Entering hospice sooner rather than later could be the best course of action, but hospice is a choice. Is it the right choice? We can’t say for sure – but we can say that having a conversation is wise. And if talking the matter over with your loved one proves to be a challenge, the Suncrest team is here to help. Get in touch with us, and we’ll come out to their home to explain how hospice works and answer questions about the care services available.
In our opinion, it’s never too soon to start the conversation about hospice care. For a free, no-obligation consultation with the Suncrest team in Cleveland, Ohio, contact us today.
