If you have a loved one entering hospice care or are considering entering it yourself, you may have a lot of questions. There are many myths and misconceptions about the role and purpose of hospice care, and it’s important to understand what to expect as a patient or as a loved one of someone requiring hospice services.
Here are three facts that you may not know about hospice care and how it helps people.
1. It’s not only for those with terminal illness
Hospice services are helpful in a range of situations. For example, hospice nurses or workers often provide care to people with chronic health problems that have reached an advanced stage. This care can be provided in-home or in another setting. Hospice is an approach to providing care, so it isn’t necessarily bound to a particular place.
2. It should not be seen as surrender or failure
It’s common to have mixed feelings about hospice care, as it signals the end of medical attempts to cure or halt a disease’s progress. However, it’s important to recognize that this doesn’t mean that anyone has “given up” or that death will arrive sooner as the result of the choice to seek hospice care. It is simply a shift to an approach that prioritizes the comfort and quality of life of the patient as well as support for the caregivers.
3. It can extend life and enhance quality of life
Patients who receive hospice care typically live longer than patients who do not receive it. They also have greater levels of comfort and quality of life in hospice care than they would without it. It offers a way to approach the potential end of life with dignity and respect for everyone involved.
Find Out More
The earlier you start thinking about the possibility of needing hospice care services, the better. Making these decisions early on brings much-needed clarity and peace of mind.
Information is widely available on hospice care. You can check out reputable online sources, as well as attend community events and educational workshops. We also recommend that you reach out to family members, friends, and acquaintances who have been helped by hospice care—they are almost always a highly effective source of information and guidance.