The decision to switch your loved one from life-prolonging treatment to end-of-life care will come with plenty of emotions. It’s important to know when to seek comfort care to ensure you and your loved one can make the most of their final days.
What is Hospice?
It’s specialized care intended to manage pain and symptoms associated with terminal illnesses. The goal of hospice is to provide patients and their families with medical, emotional and spiritual support as they transition to end-of-life care.
Hospice will allow your loved one to carry on with their daily life while their discomfort is managed. Those services are beneficial for people with long-term health conditions like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, end-stage kidney disease and chronic lung disease.
Signs It’s Time for Hospice
Frequent, unmanageable pain: Your loved one’s condition may require certain treatment or medication to ease physical discomfort. If their disease progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage their pain safely if they refuse treatment.
Declining cognitive health: A dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis often necessitates hospice care. Loss of memory and cognitive function affects your loved one’s ability to care for themselves, so they’ll need more hands-on assistance. Hospice services mitigate the negative effects of cognitive decline to ease your parent’s emotional and mental strain.
Inability to complete daily tasks: Is your mom or dad having trouble bathing, eating and taking medication? Daily chores and activities are accounted for and addressed in hospice, so you’ll know your parent is getting the assistance and attention they need.
Decreased appetite and weight loss: Whether it’s a side effect of treatment or a natural progression of their illness, a loss of appetite can indicate a need for specialized care. Hospice staff provides meals and feeding services to ensure your loved one receives enough nutrition to keep them comfortable.
More frequent hospitalizations: Your loved one may require emergency services and a higher level of care than you can provide at home. By spending their final days in hospice, they’ll be more comfortable than in a hospital setting.
Doctor recommendation: A physician’s prognosis is one of the clearest signs that it’s time to move your loved one to hospice. It’s important to take advantage of hospice as soon as possible if a doctor suggests transitioning your parent to end-of-life care. That will give the staff time to strategize and accommodate your parent’s needs.
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Requirements for a Hospice Care Referral
Your parent must meet certain qualifications to be considered eligible for hospice.
- Two physicians must certify that your loved one is terminally ill.
- Your parent must be given fewer than six months to live.
- Medical documentation shows a pattern of physical decline.
- Therapeutic options have not improved your parent’s condition.
- Your loved one wishes to stop life-prolonging treatment.
- Family members express concerns about end-of-life health complications.
Above all, a referral is based on what your loved one wants. For example, your parent may choose hospice if they’re receiving an aggressive form of treatment that’s producing more adverse side effects than the natural progression of their disease.
Embassy Healthcare is committed to ensuring our residents are comfortable and cared for during their end-of-life transition. We will work with you to contact your preferred hospice company and provide onsite care for your loved one. Call 216-378-2050 or contact us online for more information.
