Many families avoid having conversations about Hospice and Life Care Planning until a loved one is nearing the end of life. The reality is that NOW is the perfect time to discuss Hospice care.
What is Hospice?
- Hospice is a philosophy of care providing physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual care sharply focused on comfort and quality of life for the terminally ill patient and their family.
- Hospice is helping with comfort and care to make the unfamiliar territory of death slightly more comfortable and providing a good and perfect ending.
- Hospice also assists in the practical tasks of daily life.
There are many myths and misconceptions about Hospice. 
- Hospice is for the very end of life
- The reality is the Hospice care is most beneficial when there is sufficient time to manage symptoms and establish a trusting relationship
- Earlier referrals to Hospice allow patients to receive the full benefits and advantages of the care: they can manage symptoms earlier, remain stable longer, and more full enjoy the remainder of life
- Social workers can help patients, and their families, prepare for death and resolve concerns
- Pastoral Care has time to prepare the patient spiritually
- Hospice can prevent a pain crisis or respiratory distress at the end of life
- Hospice is just about dying
- The reality is that Hospice focuses on helping patient LIVE
- Patients are encouraged to fully embrace life during this journey
- Hospice urges patients to make their goals a reality
- Hospice means giving up hope
- The reality is that hope is “HOsPicE”
- Research shows that patients on hospice actually live longer
- With proper symptom management, patients sometimes stabilize and have improved quality of life
- End of life care is very expensive
- Typically, Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries pay little to nothing for hospice care
- Many insurances cover hospice care, and VA eligible patients can be covered through the VA.
- Nobody is ever turned away due to inability to pay
Questions to Help Direct a Hospice Conversation with Loved Ones
- What is your understanding of the situation and the potential outcomes?
- What are your fears and what are your hopes?
- What are the tradeoffs you are willing to make and not willing to make?
- What is the course of action that best serves this understanding?
The holiday season provides the perfect opportunity for families to start having end-of-life care conversations as this is one of the only times everybody is together.
Prairie Lakes Hospice staff and volunteers are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of a terminally ill patient while respecting the patient's and family's right to make decisions that affect their life and death. Physicians, nurses and social workers provide medical help and counseling to ease both physical and mental pain.
For more information, call Prairie Lakes Hospice at 605-882-7745.