When faced with a terminal illness, many individuals opt for hospice care to improve their quality of life in the last phase of their life. Hospice care involves comprehensive support for the patients and their families, including medical care, spiritual and emotional support, and pain management. This type of care is designed to provide a comfortable and dignified end-of-life experience for those who are suffering from a terminal illness. One of the most important things for patients and their families to understand is the benefits of early hospice care. Hospice care Los Angeles offers numerous benefits to patients, and their families, and can help ensure that the patient is well-cared for during the final days of their life.
The Advantages of Early Hospice Care
Although hospice care eligibility requires a life expectancy of six months or less, initiating hospice care earlier can offer significant benefits to the patient and their family. Hospice care services provide comprehensive support that can help reduce the symptoms associated with terminal illnesses, provide emotional support, and ensure that patients receive adequate care throughout the entire process.
One of the most significant advantages of early hospice care is access to resources. Hospice care teams typically provide a range of valuable resources that include professional help with medical paperwork, personal care for home health aides, and spiritual care from dementia specialists. Registered dietitians can also provide advice on nutrition, and volunteers can provide companionship and relief for family members. Hospice care teams also provide 24/7 triage assistance for urgent issues that arise outside regular hours, ensuring that patients receive the necessary medical care when they need it.
Despite the benefits of early hospice care, the utilization of hospice as a Medicare benefit in the United States is lower than expected. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s report for 2020 analyzed data from 2018 and found that more than half of patients received hospice care for only 30 days or less, with an appalling 27.9 percent receiving hospice services for one to seven days.
What Prevents Families from Engaging Hospice Care on Time?
One of the factors that prevent families from engaging hospice care on time is the fear of the future. Anticipatory grief, sadness, and mourning that come with knowing what lies ahead could be the root of this reluctance. Grief is not merely something that happens after a loss; anticipatory grief can be just as intense. Such pre-emptive sorrow can play a significant role in hospice care, and family members must be given space to process their emotions as they deal with anticipatory grief in their way.
Another factor that prevents families from engaging hospice care on time is the misconception that hospice care means giving up hope. To some, it may feel like saying goodbye, as though hospice implies there is no more hope for their loved one to get better. Decisions that involve such strong emotions are understandably tricky and filled with stress. However, hospice care can redefine hope as a desire to create a peaceful, comfortable environment where your loved one can live their final months.
The Difficult Decision: Deciding to Begin Hospice
Deciding to start hospice care can be a difficult one and is different for each person. However, it is essential to understand that hospice care can offer numerous benefits to both the patient and their family. Although hospice eligibility requires a life expectancy of six months or less, the emotional and mental readiness of the individual in question is something that needs to be taken into consideration.
Hospice care allows individuals to live out their final days in the comfort of their homes while still receiving top-notch medical attention. The hospice team provides support and resources for families caring for loved ones throughout this process and closely monitors medications.
New Vision Hospice is a healthcare organization dedicated to providing comprehensive hospice care services to patients and their families. The hospice offers a range of services including pain and symptom management, emotional support, and spiritual care. They have a team of experienced and compassionate healthcare professionals who work closely with patients and their loved ones to provide individualized care plans that meet their unique needs. New Vision Hospice is committed to ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care and comfort during their end-of-life journey. Their goal is to help patients and their families live life to the fullest, with dignity and respect, during this difficult time.
