Preparing for Terminal Illness with Hospice Care

If you have ever had a loved one terminally ill, then you may know what hospice care is about. I would like to educate people and commend hospice and their dedicated employees for all the great support they give to the terminally ill patient and their families. So what is hospice? Hospice is quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness. They provide medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support that has been expressed by the patient's needs and wishes.

The focus of hospice is the belief that each of us has the right to die pain free and with dignity. It also focuses on our loved ones, that they will receive the necessary support to fulfill our wishes. The focus is on caring, not necessarily to cure. Hospice care is provided to the patient in their own home in most cases, although there are free standing hospice facilities. Requirements for hospice are a prognosis of six months or less. Generally the patients family are considered the primary care giver, and helps make decisions for the terminally ill hospice patient. However, the healthcare provider makes regular visits to do assessments and provide additional care. The goal of hospice is to keep the patient as pain free as possible with the family members nearby until death. Hospice provides the needed medications, medical supplies, and equipment. They coach the family on how to care for the patient, assists the patient with the emotional and spiritual aspects of dying, and provides bereavement care and couseling to the surviving loved ones of the patient.

Hospice care is paid for by Medicare, Medicaid and most traditional insurance providers. If the individual does not have coverage, hospice will work with the family to ensure the services can be provided. Having first hand personal experience with hospice with one of my dying family members, I cannot say enough good things about hospice care. My grandmother had been in a nursing home, when we decided to bring her back to her home with hospice care, she could not have been happier. She new her time was coming to an end, and to be able to be back in her own home surrounded by her loved ones was the best way to let her know how much we loved her.

Her passing was very peaceful and dignified. If you are facing a terminal illness of yourself or a loved one, I honestly say, if you decide to consider hospice, you will find comfort with this service. For the ones that are left behind, the hospice care does not end upon the patients passing, they provide you with great resources and couseling for coping with our loss. It is extremely difficult to make dicisions on a loved ones behalf when they are unable to make those decisions for themselves, but care providers are always there to assist you in making those tough choices. They have experience and are compassionate to your needs and concerns. Hospice is filled with caring professionals and volunteers to assist with the transition. You can find out more information by contacting your local healthcare provider or cancer treatment centers.