When you or a loved one is faced with a life limiting illness, making informed decisions will be key to serenity for all. Join us as we explore the ultimate goal and the purpose of Hospice care. In this article you will learn a bit more about the four pillars of purpose.

Grief is part of the human condition. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, many loved ones of patients who receive hospice and palliative care experience anticipatory grief before losing a family member or friend. Experts agree grief isn’t linear or time-limited.

Helping Your Patients Understand the Transition from Palliative Care to Hospice

The transition from palliative care to hospice care can be a confusing time for patients and their families. It is likely they will feel many complex emotions including — sadness, fear, anger and more. As their provider, you have an opportunity to empower and educate them by keeping them informed of their options as they navigate the transition.

When someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness, treating and managing their symptoms becomes a top priority. A large part of successfully caring for someone with a terminal illness is understanding how palliative and hospice care play a role in treatment and what the transition from palliative to hospice entails. 

End-of-life planning is a difficult topic to discuss under any circumstances. For family members, the topic can be tough to broach because they don’t want to imagine a reality without their loved one or don’t know how their loved one will react to this type of conversation. For those who are terminally ill, it can be just as hard or intimidating to approach the topic with their children or loved ones. They may be worried about burdening their children with sorting out care options or may be waiting for a physician or caretaker to initiate the conversation for them.

In the face of coronavirus, we are looking at a difficult and tumultuous time for healthcare professionals, patients and their families.

Everyone wants to think that they'll have a little more time with their aging family members. It's hard to think about losing someone you love, so a lot of families tend to put off talking about end-of-life care. Having an open and honest conversation with your loved one about their wishes for care is important, and having that conversation early is imperative to providing them with the best quality of life.

“Hospice” is a word that can strike fear or provide a feeling of peace, depending on the individual. For those who don’t fully understand what hospice care is and what it provides, they tend to fall into the former category rather than the latter. I want to dispel the misconceptions and the common myths about hospice. This speciality end-of-life care focuses on comfort and celebrating life, because every day is a gift.

The fear of the unknown is always greater than the fear of the known.

If you qualify for hospice care, you and your family will work with your hospice team to set up a plan of care that meets your needs. For more specific information on a hospice plan of care, call your national or state hospice organization.