Hospice care is appropriate when a person will no longer benefit from curative treatment and life expectancy is approximately six months if the disease runs its normal course. The decision for someone to enter a hospice program will be a joint decision between the person, his or her family members, and his or her primary care physician and the hospice medical director.

For a person to get the most out of hospice care, it is important that it begin at the right time. It is too early if the person is still seeking a cure for his or her illness. It is too late if death is very near and there is little time left for hospice care to make a contribution to the quality of life during the last precious months.

When considering hospice, a person should first have the agreement and cooperation of his or her personal physician. Second, the person should understand that he or she has a terminal illness and that hospice will offer palliative or supportive care rather than curative care. Palliative care is focused primarily on comfort from pain and on keeping other symptoms from reducing the patient’s quality of life. Finally, if the person desires to be cared for in his or her home, it is helpful to have a family member or close friend who is willing to be the primary caregiver. Alternately, the client should have a plan for how personal care will be provided.

If at any time the client decides to change his or her approach from comfort-oriented care to a treatment or a curative approach, he or she may revoke the Medicare or Medicaid hospice benefits and reinstate regular benefits.

Contact Hospice of Jefferson County at (360) 385-0610