We go through our entire life making decisions. Looking back we might say that choosing a college or major, finding our forever home, or naming our children may rank on top of the list of the most difficult. But, the final season of life is riddled with increasingly difficult choices, and there is often no easy answer. One of those decisions? Should you opt for Hospice care?
If you’re unsure if you will qualify for Hospice care, jump on over to this Handy Guide to find out…
Often times, a major difficulty in deciding whether or not to choose Hospice care, is the information barrier. Misconceptions, lack of understanding, and fear send people running before they even know what Hospice really is. First things first, make a commitment to learning more about Hospice as a whole. You can browse around at HelpfulHospiceNurse.com or you can call around to some local Hospice organizations and request a meet and greet. Either way, take some time to learn more before you make your decision.
Once you’ve gained a deeper understanding of Hospice as a service, it’s time for some life reflection. I highly suggest grabbing a notebook or journal, writing down the following questions, and taking some notes for yourself. This isn’t anything that you need to share with others if it’s too personal, but doing so may help family and friends to understand your decision.
Are you receiving ongoing treatments for a disease?
Are those treatments working?
Are you expected to heal and recover fully?
Are you happy with your life while under those treatments?
Are you living your life as you wish, or do you find yourself feeling as if your disease is running the show? Are you able to find happy moments?
Are you comfortable more or less often than you are uncomfortable?
Do you wish to continue current treatments?
Are you willing to endure the physical cost of attempting to cure your disease?
What are your daily, short term and long term goals?
If your treatments will be the focus of your life, for the rest of your life, with no end in sight, are they really worth it? A Hospice plan of care does NOT require that all treatments end, but instead it focuses on treatments that bring the most amount of comfort through the least amount of discomfort. For instance, most chemotherapies would be stopped for patients who are not expected to fully recover, even with the aid of the treatment, because the side effects have a major effect on a person’s wellbeing. But, if a mild form of chemotherapy can be used with minimal side effects, to shrink a tumor and provide in pain relief, it would be considered Hospice-friendly.
Do you wish to remain in your current home for the remainder of your life?
Do you wish to stay out of the hospital as much as possible?
Do you require more assistance now than you did previously with health and personal care?
Even if you’re not currently receiving invasive treatments, do you wish to continue your life as you currently are while receiving some additional assistance? Maybe you find that you’re having more difficulty with walking, or managing your medications, or going to the restroom. It’s possible that you qualify for help with those needs through Hospice care if you have a qualifying diagnosis. The only way to be sure, is to talk with your doctor about the possibility.
Has your physician suggested Hospice?
Have you been told that you are terminally ill or dying?
Are you at peace with your diagnosis and wish to focus on being comfortable?
If curing what ails you is no longer your primary goal in life, what is?
Often times, physicians are the first to mention Hospice. Since your doctor usually sees you only periodically, things are sometimes very noticeable to them, where they aren’t to you or loved ones. If they have noticed a decline in your mobility or overall health, and have brought up the topic of Hospice care, it’s a sure sign that you need to carefully look into your options.
Regardless of your reasoning for seeking Hospice services, the primary consideration should be whether or not the plan of care is in line with your personal goals for your life. Hospice focuses on a life that is as free of discomfort as possible, while allowing you to live and enjoy as you are able. While healing is sometimes a surprising bi-product of the service, it’s not the primary goal. In fact, most patients will totally cease to monitor the progression of their disease through scans and biopsies because the disease itself becomes inherently less important than quality of life.
Regardless of the decision that you make, know that it is never permanent. If you’re not ready for Hospice now, it’ll be there for you when you are. If you choose the service today and change your mind tomorrow, a simple signature can put you on a different path. There’s no permanency to the decision and you can take comfort in knowing that you always have the freedom to choose to change your mind.
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