No time limit to use hospice care

Time after time, spouses and families tell us "We wished we had heard about hospice sooner."

Why aren't people hearing about hospice in time?

Hospice must be one of the best kept secrets in health care: an amazing team of compassionate and skilled care providers, paid for by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.

This team, when invited into a home, is professionally trained in hospice and palliative care and support people from the time intense care needs begin, through the end of life. This can sometimes be months, or even years depending on the medical needs presented.

Hospice provides support with physicians, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants to provide hygiene, social workers, chaplains, volunteers and bereavement services.

This holistic, interdisciplinary approach to end-of-life, takes into account all types of concerns: physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, relational, financial and practical.

Hospice care brings an increased sense of confidence through a time that can otherwise be very overwhelming for all.

Knowing how comprehensive hospice care is now, isn't it surprising that so many families hear about this option in time to utilize hospice for only weeks, days even hours of care?

A lot of people see calling hospice as "giving up" when studies indicate otherwise: Patients usually live longer on hospice services because their symptoms and pain are so skillfully managed.

Often people fear there is only up to six months to use hospice. There is no limit to the time a person can receive hospice care. As you can imagine, this kind of care is much more beneficial to all if utilized for more than just a few days.

If one is told they only have days to live, hospice can still provide an unparalleled level of comfort and support to the patient and their loved ones.

People have shared with us about how unbelievably difficult making the initial call to hospice is but later relate how relieved they were once they met the hospice staff.

It is conceivable that most of us know a person who could benefit from hospice care but is not yet receiving it.

Increased hospitalizations, weight loss, increased infections, a combination of health challenges and less ability to accomplish the activities of daily living (eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, walking) are things to look for as signs for increased care needs.

Annette Olson is executive director of VistaCare Hospice in Clovis, one of multiple hospice providers in the region. Contact her at 575-762-7067