As an elderly or terminally ill loved one nears the end of life, it sometimes becomes apparent that traditional medical interventions are no longer helpful.  In some cases, those traditional means can even harm the quality of life during those last days and weeks.

An option that can help the quality of life when traditional methods are no longer effective is Hospice, a family-centered philosophy of end-of-life care that takes the focus off of life-extending medical interventions and instead focuses on providing comfort and increased quality of life for patients in their final days of life.

Generally, once someone who is terminally ill has been diagnosed as having six months or less to live, he or she is eligible for Hospice care.  Hospice care can be given in a hospital, in a nursing home, or in the patient’s home.  As much as possible, the patient’s family is encouraged to participate in decision-making and in care-giving responsibilities.

The choice to participate in Hospice care is not a permanent one.  It is not unusual for a patient to receive Hospice care for a period of time, decide to transition back to traditional medical care,  and then still be able to return to Hospice if they choose.  This can be particularly true when a cancer patient’s health improves.

Along with including family members in patient care giving, Hospice also provides direct support for grieving family members.  While a patient is receiving care, and after a patient passes away, family members can join support groups or receive counseling to help them through the process of saying goodbye to their loved one.

It’s easy to find more information about Hospice through your local hospital, nursing home, or online.

The Law Offices Of Cheryl David is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

Tags: hospice

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