What Does It Mean To Go On Hospice Care?

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Last Updated on March 1, 2022 by Frank Davis

If a patient’s life expectancy is six months or less, then it may be time to go on hospice. Hospice is a program, which provides comfort care and emotional support to people who are nearing the end of their life. Hospice is helpful for individuals and also their families. The goal of hospice care is to improve the quality of life in the days leading up to death.

In this article we will explain what does it mean to go on hospice and what to expect from the hospice interdisciplinary team.

What does it mean to go on hospice

Hospice is a type of care from a team of health professionals that assists the patient with their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. The goal is to focus on quality of end-of-life care so that the patient can live as fully as possible. When a patient goes into hospice care, he or she may have all symptoms being treated. This could mean that medical treatments and tests are not needed for end-of-life issues. Instead, the team will focus on helping the patient feel more comfortable and not suffer from possible pain. A patient may also have treatments to help with symptoms such as nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety, nausea and any other symptoms that may occur. A person’s team may vary based on their needs and level of care.

How often will the hospice team visit

The team will visit the patient and family members three to five times a week or more as needed. The team may also contact the patient and family between visits if there is a change in condition, if medications or treatments need to be added or changed or if other issues or concerns arise. The team can also help with issues that the family may have such as funeral planning, spiritual or grief support and financial concerns. The team will include a physician, nurse, social worker, therapists, chaplains, home health aides, volunteers and other health professionals.

Wrapping Up

Hospice is a way of giving patients and their families comfort, dignity and peace during difficult times. Hospice programs can be adapted to meet the needs of the patient by including spiritual and emotional support as well as physical and medical treatments. The experts are there to help provide comfort and answer questions. Understanding what hospice care is can help patients prepare their wishes in advance while they are still able to make decisions.