What Is Hospice? And Why Hospice Needs a PR Campaign

JennyB

9 months ago

Another myth: Palliative care and hospice are synonymous. They're not. Palliative care is appropriate from the time of diagnosis and can be provided along with curative treatment. It is the medical specialty focused on improving the quality of life of people facing serious illness. Emphasis is placed on pain and symptom management, communication and coordinated care. Palliative care treats people suffering from serious and chronic illnesses including cancer, cardiac disease like Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), kidney failure, Alzheimer's, HIV/AIDS and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Palliative care relieves symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. It helps the patient gain the strength to carry on with daily life. It improves the patient's ability to tolerate medical treatments. And it helps the patient to better understand his/her choices for care. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/palliativecare.html I recently switched my loved one, who has moderately-severe Alzheimer's, from a geriatrician to a palliative care specialist (also a board certified geri). Wow, what a difference! And since the new doctor splits her time between palliative care and hospice care, we can stay with her all the way. I wish I'd known about this healthcare option a long time ago.

cccarter2005­

about 2 years ago

All I can say is Hospice is Absolutely AWESOME! Anyone who thinks you might need it ask your Dr plz checkinto it--TODAY! You will not be sorry!

joyg

over 2 years ago

My husband has been in hospice for palative care for about 4 months now. I cannot tell you what a terrific help they have been. He has equipment he needs, his meds are monitored, I can talk to a case manager and a social worker, and he has a regular shower nurse who specializes in body checks for sores and bruising. I could not manage at this point even though he is in a memory support unit without their help. They help me a great deal in communicating to the facility what is needed and following through. God bless them. My recommendation, enter as soon as your doctor feels that you qualify. You can also leave hospice and come back if necessary.

Pattycakes

over 2 years ago

We just put my sister on Hospice this week. The nurse came to visit on tuesday and my sisters bloodpressure was 70/40. Immediately she was admitted to the Hospice center and her pain was managed,she was given a steroid to help with inflamation and now she is able to eat. she is so much happier and plans to be discharged from the hospice center and continue care at home till she needs to go back to the center for final stages of life. the ride to the center and back was picked up by medicare, the vns is also paid. its nice to know someone is helping to look after her when family cannot be close by