Hospice

I have a friend who is dying. Though she was ill, no one thought the end would come so suddenly, and no one was ready in thought or emotion. She was beginning to act oddly, lose weight, sleep more, and talk less, but neither family nor friends could face the reality that the end was near until being hospitalized was necessary and the diagnosis made. She was given only a month to live.

What does one do to prepare and how does one make the end as easy as possible for the person dying? These are tough questions especially for those who are emotionally involved. The best course of action is to contact Hospice, either a service or a hospice facility. They will begin immediately to ensure that everyone's comfort is optimum.

Hospice is an excellent program that is under-utilized and often called so late in the process that many beneficial services go unused. Though the purpose of Hospice is to provide compassionate support and extraordinary care for people in the final phase of a terminal disease, the program's goal is to enhance the quality of life regardless of its duration.

Subscribing to a holistic approach, a Hospice team includes a medical director, physician, nurse, certified nurse assistants (CNAs), social worker, spiritual care coordinator, therapists and counselors. Volunteers provide companionship and emotional support to the patient and respite services for the patient's caregiver, including shopping, errands, childcare, and light meals.

Begin with discussing your loved one's condition with the doctor, who must certify to Hospice that the patient is no longer thriving or that the disease is terminal. Ask the physician to recommend the best Hospice provider or call the National Hospice Organization at 800-658-8898 or visit www.nhpco.org for valuable information and recommendations.

Once a patient has been examined, records reviewed and medications evaluated, a care plan is developed. Then Hospice will provide all necessary equipment, supplies and medicines, whether the patient is at home or in a facility, and the cost is covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. The final phase of the journey need not be feared. With help and support, the last moments in our loved one's life can be peaceful and uplifting.