The decision to begin hospice care is a difficult and often painful one. We always hope that our elderly loved ones, be they a parent or grandparent, will be with us for longer. Yet often in old age, an elderly person’s health can take a sharp downward spiral. There are several pointed warning signs. These can often indicate that perhaps it’s time to begin hospice or palliative care.
Warning Signs of Failing Health
The first is frequent sickness or viral infections indicating a compromised immune system and poor health. These can often lead to frequent hospitalizations. If your elderly family member seems to be spending more time in the hospital than otherwise, it may be time to consider hospice or palliative care. Another warning sign is reduced appetite and weight loss. Is your elderly family member just not enjoying food and beverage the way they used to? Do they seem to have almost lost interest in eating? This can be a very dire sign, especially coupled with weight loss. Another strong warning sign is loss of ability? Is your elderly family member just not able to do everyday things they used to do with ease? Are they having trouble with simple tasks like dressing, cooking or personal hygiene? Of course, the most serious sign of all is that in spite of any medical treatment, the elderly person simply is not getting better. If any of this is true about your elderly family member, it may be time to consider hospice care.
Beginning Hospice Care
Making this decision can be hard, especially during a time of grief. Remember, however, that hospice is not necessary about death. It is far from unheard of for elderly people’s condition to dramatically improve in hospice. Always remember that hospice care is voluntary and can be stopped if your loved one has a change for the better. It is about living what life they have left in the most comfortable and compassionate of circumstance. Medical treatment is typically about giving a patient more time to live. Hospice care is about improving the quality of life in the finite amount of time the elderly patient has. The decision to stop medical treatment and begin hospice care is among the most difficult you will make for a loved one. Also don’t forget that many hospices provide palliative care which can be used in combination with medical treatment. Find out about the difference between palliative and hospice care.
Necessary Preparations for Hospice Care
The first and most important preparation for end of life care is usually to have a difficult though necessary conversation with your loved one. This may be difficult if the person has dementia, however. Your next step is typically to decide whether you want hospice to be given at home or an assisted living facility. If your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s, an assisted living facility is typically a better option. Home may be preferable for other seniors who still retain cognitive abilities, however. You should also work out all insurance issues and payment arrangements.
In Conclusion
There are many factors to consider when making your decision to choose hospice or palliative care. These include warning signs of failing health. They should be weighed to help you make the right decision for your family member.