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Is Hospice Right for Your Loved
One?
SHELTON, CT, February 29, 2008 – If
you're caring for an older loved one who is terminally
ill, hospice care should be a consideration. Hospice
programs allow patients to live the remainder of their
lives at home or in a home-like setting while they receive
palliative (pain management) therapy rather than aggressive,
disease-curing treatment. Terminal cancer is not the
only diagnosis which should prompt consideration of
hospice care; some end-stage chronic heart, lung, neurologic,
and other illnesses may qualify for hospice care. Hospice
isn't for everyone. Instead of focusing on recovery,
hospice patients focus on dying comfortably, surrounded
by loved ones. Here are some questions to help you determine
whether hospice is right for your loved one:
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Is 24-hour care necessary
now or in the near future? If so, can you arrange
for such care?
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Have you or your loved one
discussed hospice with a doctor and does she/he
consider it appropriate?
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Has your loved one received
a physician's prognosis of six months or less to
live?
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Is your loved one certain
that she/he wants to forego further surgery or treatment?
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Have you discussed all realistic
care options with your loved one and other family
members?
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If your loved one wants
to remain at home, how will day-to-day care be managed?
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Is there a family member
who can assume primary responsibility for your loved
one if care is given at home? Are other friends
and relatives willing and able to help?
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If you do not have a relative
or close friend who can be the primary caregiver,
would your loved one consider a hospice program
within a hospice facility or nursing home?
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Will your or your loved
one's insurance cover any of the costs of hospice
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These questions should serve as a guideline
only. If you are considering hospice care for your loved
one, research it carefully and ask questions of your
loved one and her/his medical providers to help you
make decisions. You can begin your research by visiting
the web sites of the Hospice Association of America
(http://www.nahc.org/HAA)
and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
(http://www.nhpco.org).
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Aging & Caregiving series was created for
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About LifeCare®,
Inc.
LifeCare offers cost-saving benefits that help clients
reduce their most pervasive absenteeism and productivity
drains, including child and elder care, caregiving support,
health and wellness issues, and more. For more than
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Media contact: Michael Civiello
LifeCare, Inc.
pr1@lifecare.com
203-291-4170
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