End of Life Medical Care Questions

1. When do you call in hospice?

   Hospice care is by definition reserved for terminally ill patients, who can no longer benefit from traditional medical care and are most in want of care that keeps them as comfortable and free of pain in their final days as possible. In fact, most hospice services require a doctor's certification that...
   1 Expert Answer, 6 Community Answers

2. How do I talk to my parent about entering hospice care?

   This is a very hard conversation to have with anyone, but it will be especially hard for someone on a ventilator. If your parent can communicate with you, I would try to talk to them to see if they feel they have a good quality of life. Ask yes-no questions like, "Are you happy?" or "Do you ever wish that you were not on the ventilator...
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3. How can I help my son accept the fact that Hospice care is needed?

   First, you have much reason to be proud. You have done a wonderful job raising a fine person. Your son is kind and loyal; it is a wonderful combination of traits. It sounds like he has the maturity to make his own decision about what role he should play in caring for his grandmother. To make such a decision, however, he needs information...
   1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

4. If untreated, how long will it take gangrene to take over the body?

   Reading through your letter, it sounds like your loved one has had a tough road over the past several months. In my 15 years of experience as a nurse, I see many people end up in this kind of situation as they near the end of their life. Many chronic health problems start to take their toll on a person, like your loved one...
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

5. Is there a pain-free time before someone dies?

   I believe you are referring to the effects of endorphins which are hormone-like, naturally occurring substances produced by the brain in response to stressors. For instance, the “high” that runners experience when their muscles are stretched, tired, and painful is thought to be produced by these ene endorphins as the brain attempts to block the pain...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

6. Does hospice offer any private settings where I can live out my last days?

   One of the greatest fears patients have is being a burden to family when faced with a life-limiting disease. This fear can even be greater than fearing pain at the end of life. So, rest assured there are options for patients with terminal diseases to receive hospice services besides in the home setting...
   1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

7. Is it normal for hospice to stop all medications?

   Thank you for asking this question. It allows me to clarify what our goals are when a patient comes onto our service.
   1 Expert Answer, 15 Community Answers

8. Can hopsice resuscitate a patient?

   I am sorry to hear that your sister suffered. From you discription, I believe your sister received what we call "palliative controlled sedation" in the hospital. This is pain control for those patients who have intractable pain, or pain that is so severe only specific medications can begin to manage it...
   2 Expert Answers, 1 Community Answer

9. Is my grandmother going through a phase or is this really the end?

   Your grandmother has been diagnosed with two diseases that affect both her heart and her lungs. Both conditions are using up her energy by making breathing, which we take for granted, extremely difficult for her. She needs to sleep more just to restore her body...
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

10. Can a Person With Alzheimer's Benefit From Hospice Care?

    Yes, hospice care is a good fit for many Alzheimer's patients who want physical symptoms controlled and as much spiritual and emotional support as possible.
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

11. Mom has inconsistent eating behaviors, what is causing this behavior?

    It’s hard to know what is going on with your step-mom because you did not state her diagnosis. But, one thing is clear—families are distressed when their loved ones no longer want to eat.
    1 Expert Answer

12. We are considering bringing mom home with help from hospice, any suggestions?

    Hospice is truly about providing a peaceful life closure, usually in the home setting. It sounds like your mother has been through quite a lot. And, often times the hospital will send a patient to a nursing home after an acute admission for various therapies. If you feel you can now care for your mother in your home, then definitely consider hospice...
    1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

13. At What Point Will Hospice Provide Care for Someone With Alzheimer's?

    Not all hospice providers use the same criteria for admission, but some standards are beginning to evolve. To be eligible for hospice care, the patient must generally be unable to:
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

14. How can we persuade my mother, who's caring for my dying father, to bring in hospice help?

    Many people who've never had experience with hospice have misconceptions about what it means. Like your mother, many people believe that involving hospice in a patient's care amounts to a death sentence or that their loved one will die more quickly or won't be properly cared for. Hospice care does not accelerate the dying process...
    1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

15. How long will it take for her to die in her condition?

    When a person dies is sometimes not easy to determine until they are actively dying. Their is no way to predict exactly when someone will die. Your hospice nurse can usually tell when it will be a matter of hours. Rather than focus on her death, spend time celebrating her life. Talk to her even though she seems not to respond...
    1 Expert Answer, 24 Community Answers

16. How long can my mother survive in hospice with out eating or drinking?

    sadly I was right, my Mom passed away 3 days after I posted this, I know she is not suffering anymore but my world feels empty right now :-( I am so sad I don't even have words enough to describe, thanks for your reply even if late I appreciate it greatly. God Bless
    2 Community Answers