There’s no question that battling a long illness is difficult and exhausting. When a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, surgery, medication and other therapies may buy them more quality time with friends and family. But for many patients, these measures eventually stop working. You may want to discuss hospice care with your loved one, but you may also wonder when hospice care is appropriate. The caring, compassionate medical team at Suncrest Home Health and Hospice in Fremont wants you to know we are here to help you navigate this challenging path.
Doctors Prescribe Hospice Care
Hospice care is provided by medical professionals, and the goal is to make patients comfortable in their last days, rather than extend their lives. The decision to enter hospice care is one that must be considered carefully. However, once the decision has been made, it is necessary for a doctor to prescribe hospice care.
In order to enter hospice care, the patient must be diagnosed by their doctor as having a terminal illness and a life expectancy of less than six months. Hospice care is not appropriate for patients who do not have a terminal illness, even if they are unable to care for themselves. A better fit for them is a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home.
When Is the Right Time for Hospice?
When making the decision about how long a patient is expected to live, doctors and hospice nurses look at many factors. One is the type of illness the patient has and its expected progression. Another is how the patient is faring. They may have been in a period of remission, but more recently entered a period of decline.
Signs of decline include increased weakness rendering the patient unable to ambulate, loss of bowel and bladder control, reduced interest in eating and drinking, increased complaints of pain and decreased mental function and alertness.
What if the Patient Gets Better?
While hospice care for these types of patients is appropriate and would likely be approved by a physician, it is possible that the patient will improve while in hospice care and be discharged. This happens infrequently, however, because when entering hospice, patients usually cease taking many of their medications.
Hospice is meant to allow patients to make the most of whatever time they have left. So, for instance, because chemotherapy is known to make many patients nauseous and tired, they would usually discontinue this while in hospice. However, patients still receive medications for pain relief.
Hospice Care with Suncrest
At Suncrest Home Health and Hospice, we assure patients and families that they do not need to worry about the six-month caveat for hospice care, because if patients live longer than that, they can continue to receive hospice care for another six months if their prognosis has not changed.
Our hospice nurses and social workers can help your family decide when hospice care is appropriate for your loved one. Whether you opt for hospice care at home or in a facility, we can help make your loved one’s final days comfortable and happy. Call Suncrest Home Health and Hospice of Fremont today for more information.
