Is Hospice Care Right for Me & My Family?
Preparing for the end of life of a loved one is something no one wants to think about, and because of this, families often put off the discussion of end-of-life care. If you’re feeling unsure about whether or not to pursue hospice care, it is likely that your loved one may already be eligible for this specialized care that prioritizes comfort and support as they near the end of their life. If it is determined that your loved one is not eligible for hospice care at this time, it is important to have an understanding of when to call hospice in case an emergency arises. This way, you’ll know what options are available and will be able to make the best decision for both you and your family.
If you are ready to discuss hospice care services, our team of Palliative Care Professionals at Journey Hospice Care Inc. are here for you. We provide care beyond industry standards and patient expectations, and ensure that patients and their families come first. Contact us today at 909-252-7073 or [email protected].
Should I Call Hospice Care?
Many families who receive hospice care say they wish they had made the call sooner because they needed help for their loved one much earlier. If you are seeing any of these signs or symptoms listed below, the best time to call hospice may be now:
- Regular trips to the emergency room
- Chronic and difficult-to-treat pain
- Breathing difficulties
- Rapid decrease in appetite
- Sudden mental impairment
- Increased sleep
- Failure to complete daily tasks
- Frequent or recurring infections
Starting the End-of-Life Care Conversation
At Journey Hospice Care Inc. we understand that making the first step towards end-of-life care can be stressful. A good first step to take is to have an open and honest conversation with your family and your loved one about end-of-life preferences. To start the conversation, you may want to consider asking the following questions:
- What do you value most about your life?
- If you were diagnosed with an illness that could not be cured, would you still want to pursue every possible treatment, realizing that some could negatively affect your quality of life?
- Do you want to die in your home?
- How much pain is acceptable to you?
- What do you hope for most regarding your death or the death of a loved one?
A full list of questions that can guide a conversation about end-of-life care can be found at https://hospicefoundation.org/.
How Hospice Care Helps Families
A terminal diagnosis isn’t just difficult for the patient, but for the patient’s family as well. It’s not easy to care for a terminal loved one and at the same time remain emotionally stable while trying to process and accept end-of-life. This is why hospice care works to provide comfort and support for both the patient and family. Hospice care focuses on whole patient care and is on call for the patient 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Aside from personal and medical care, spiritual counselors, social workers, volunteers, and bereavement counselors all work together as a team to meet the needs of everyone involved. The hospice care team can assist with Medicare and Medicaid applications, funeral arrangements, and grief counseling for the family leading up to and following the death of a loved one. Additionally, hospice care helps families by covering the cost of prescription medications and medical equipment and supplies, allowing the family to focus on what matters most—spending quality time with their loved one during their final days.
Our culture at Journey Hospice Care Inc. is centered and rooted in providing individualized, collaborative, & innovative care and support for terminally ill patients and their families. To learn more about hospice care and how our team can help your family, please visit https://journeyhospicecareinc.com/ or call 909-252-7073.
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