If you’re caring for an aging or terminally ill loved one, deciding when it’s time to move to hospice care can be tough. Doing so can provide a welcome sigh of relief for your loved one and can make for a more relaxing, calm end-of-life process. Here, Darline Singh shares what you need to know when considering hospice care for your loved one.
Consider Treatment Progress
If your loved one is showing a positive response to treatment, their physician may recommend that you hold off on considering hospice care. If your loved one is not showing a response to treatment, or they have expressed that they’re no longer interested in receiving aggressive treatment, it may be time to consider hospice. You’ll also want to consider your loved one’s end-of-life goals when deciding whether hospice makes sense. Focusing on these goals may make more sense than lengthening life if your loved one is most interested in comfort and spending time with friends and family members at the end of their life.
Consider Pain Levels
Pain increases during a person’s last few years, hitting an all-time high in the four months before death. If your loved one is experiencing severe pain that isn’t likely to ease with continued aggressive treatment, hospice, and pain management may create a more positive end-of-life experience than continuing to try to prolong life. Hospice care can provide your loved one with pain relief and symptom management, according to Darline Singh.
Think About Quality of Life
Some people near the point where hospice is an appropriate choice tend to withdraw from communication with the people around them. There can be many reasons for this behavior, including vision issues, memory problems, and decreased circulation, all of which can make it hard to participate in and follow conversations. You may also notice that your loved one sleeps most of the day (or rests in a chair). These signs of diminishing quality of life may mean that symptom management through hospice care is the best choice for your loved one.
Speak With Your Loved One’s Physician
As mentioned, it’s important to talk with your loved one’s doctor when deciding whether hospice is the right fit for their needs. Typically, hospice is recommended for people who are expected to live six months or less (given that their condition follows its normal course). While these conversations can be difficult to have, doing so can provide your loved one with the most positive end-of-life experience possible.
