Hospice 101

No one wants to hear the word hospice, not even me, and I’ve been a gerontologist for over 25 years. My mother, Mary, lived in a skilled nursing home the last couple years of her life. I maintained a great relationship with the staff and visited regularly. They knew me and I knew them. So, when one of the social workers recommended hospice for my mother, I replied “Hell no, no way!” The social worker let it go for a few weeks and then asked me again. My response was the same. Finally, a couple months later, she asked if I would just talk to someone from hospice and listen to all of the benefits my mother would receive from hospice care. I gave in and scheduled a meeting. I wasn’t happy, but it started to dawn on me that not only did my mother need hospice, but she would also have several more caregivers to tend to her needs. I consented and she received hospice for the last few months of her life. It was a good decision.

Understanding Hospice

The reason I didn’t give in the first time is simple – I truly didn’t know what hospice offered. I equated the word with death and didn’t want to admit my mother was declining and required another level of care. Mind you, I’m a gerontologist. I’m also a son. Mary was my mother. The professional in me flew out the window and the son in me was in denial and went into protection mode. I can’t blame so many people who just don’t get hospice. Family members don’t understand it. Health care professionals who should know it (like me), don’t fully understand what hospice is and what it offers. Heck, some doctors want nothing to do with hospice.

So, What is Hospice?

Hospice is a concept or philosophy of care that includes the individual who requires care and their family. It focuses on palliative care and comfort rather than curative treatments. It also focuses on the individual’s quality of life. Hospice care is provided to people who are terminally, chronically or seriously ill. Comfort is provided for physical pain and psychological and emotional distress. Spiritual care is also provided. Hospice affirms and celebrates life and regards death as a natural process and a normal part of living. Hospice aims at preparing the individual and family for the dying process and eventual death.

Many hospice patients will die from cancer. Others will pass due to COPD, heart disease, dementia, AIDs and CVAs. Each person who receives hospice care is treated as an individual. They truly do offer person-centered care. Each family will be unique as well and will need different types of support. Hospice is both sensitive and responsive to the needs of the individual and their family. It is important to know that hospice does not hasten or postpone death.

Services Provided by Hospice

Although all hospices must provide certain services, they have different approaches to services, staffing patterns, and types of specialty services or programs they offer. One of the most important services is pain and symptom management. Hospice aims to make the patient as comfortable as possible, remain in control of their life and enjoy their life. Hospice provides both home care and inpatient care. Many nursing home residents across the country receive hospice services annually, as do those at home. Spiritual care is a very important part of hospice. Hospice staff hold family meetings and work side by side with nursing home, assisted living and home health care agencies. Many families find the respite care provided by hospices to be much needed and appreciated. Respite provides some time off for the family members when the patient is living at home. Families can plan vacations, attend special events, take care of business, or just get some rest. Hospice also provides bereavement care, which involves working with surviving loved ones and offering help to get them through the grieving process.

Final Words

After reading this short article, I hope you have a new appreciation for hospice and the caregivers who chose this career. I have worked with and met many hospice professionals – executive directors, directors of nursing, nurses, aids, social workers, chaplains, marketers and volunteer coordinators. These are very special people. They have a heart for hospice. I have never appreciated them as much as I do now. But, I believe the only way I would appreciate them more is to fully understand what they do and the value of their services. I know now.

More About Hospice

• Pain Management
• Pain Management
• On Grief, Mourning and Bereavement
• Death and Dying in Long-Term Care