Hospice care, usually in-home, is designed for people in the terminal stages of their disease. Though hospice care is for those with a life expectancy of less than 6 months, choosing hospice is not about giving up or giving in. Rather, it is about increasing comfort and reducing stress.
Hospice care is characterized by compassion for the patient and their loved ones, providing for a maximum amount of quality time. Whether provided in a specialty facility or at home, hospice is meant to help patients live their lives to the fullest. In some cases, people who are in hospice may end up leaving hospice.
There are many considerations involved in the decision to use hospice and which providers and services to choose. As with all critical end-of-life decisions, hospice should be addressed as early as possible after diagnosis. When the time comes when hospice may be appropriate, it may be too late to properly consider the options and help your loved one make the right choice.
Hospice is sometimes confused with palliative care, but these two things are not the same. The goal of palliative care is to anticipate, prevent, and treat the symptoms and side effects of the disease and its treatment. It also addresses the emotional, social, practical, and spiritual issues that someone may face. It is intended to improve a person’s quality of life while receiving standard medical care. Learn more about palliative care here.