Hospice is about living as fully and comfortably as possible. Here's what it really means and how it works.
What does hospice care include?
Hospice care is a holistic, team-based approach focused on comfort and quality of life rather than curing illness. The interdisciplinary team, doctors, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and trained volunteers, manages pain and symptoms while addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Hospice includes medications for comfort, medical equipment and supplies, personal care, counseling, and bereavement support for the family. Care is delivered wherever the patient calls home. The goal is to help patients live their remaining time with dignity, surrounded by loved ones, free from unnecessary suffering and aggressive treatment that no longer helps.
When is it time for hospice?
Hospice is appropriate when a person has a terminal illness with a life expectancy of about 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal course, and when curative treatments are no longer working or are no longer wanted. Common signs include frequent hospitalizations, declining ability to perform daily activities, uncontrolled symptoms, and a shift in goals toward comfort. Choosing hospice doesn't mean giving up, it means changing the focus to comfort and meaning. You can start hospice and still stop it later if your condition changes. Talk to your doctor, or call 1-800-MEDIGAP to understand your coverage.