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We will all do
two things in our lives – pay taxes and die. We do the very
best we can to plan for our taxes, why don’t we do as much to
plan for our death? National Hospice Foundation statistics show
that Americans are more likely to talk to their kids about drugs
and sex than they are to talk with their parents about death.
Fewer than 25% of us have thought about how we would like to be
cared for at the end of life and put it in writing. Even though
nearly 36% of people will claim that they have told someone how
they would like to be treated, in reality it is more likely that
that information was communicated as a passing comment. One out
of every two people interviewed said they would rely on family
and friends to make decisions for them at the end of life, yet
none of them have talked about their wishes! To compound the
problem further, these same interviewees feel that enforcing the
patient’s own wishes when they are sick with less than six
months to live is the most precious thing you can provide to a
loved one.
Dr. Stuart
Lazarus of the National Hospice Foundation reveals that despite
the fact that hospice care has been successful in America for
more than two decades, one-third of Americans do not know that
only hospice offers what people say they want when dealing with
a terminal illness and limited life expectancy: choice in care,
control of pain, medical attention, help for the family,
spiritual and emotional support, and the option to remain in
their own home.
Hospice is both
a service and a philosophy. Hospice embraces the philosophy that
quality of life is much more important than quantity and
emphasizes caring rather than curing. The patient and their
family have been informed of the diagnosis and they understand
that continuing therapy will be palliative rather than curative
in nature. The patient is no longer seeking active treatment
for their disease. The primary goal is to provide comprehensive
care to those terminally ill and to their families, helping them
to continue life as normally as possible. Hospice care should
allow the patient to die peacefully and with dignity.
Hospice is
unique in its approach to patient care. It embraces the whole
person and their family. Their emotional, physical, and
spiritual needs are the primary focus. Quality hospice care
relies upon a team approach. Members of a patient’s hospice
care team include:
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The patient’s attending physician.
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The
hospice medical director who contributes specialized expertise
in pain and symptom management and participates in the
development in the individualized plan of care.
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The social worker who provides counseling and linkage to community
services which will assist the patient and family develop coping
strategies.
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Spiritual counselors if desired.
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The registered nurse who identifies physical, psycho-social and
environmental needs of the terminal patient and addresses
symptom management and comfort.
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The certified home health aide who assists the patient with hygiene,
feeding, light housekeeping and similar personal care
activities.
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Volunteers who provide practical help, friendship and support to
the patient and their family.
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The registered dietitian who provides nutritional counseling, as the
food and fluid intake needs change with terminal illness.
Since 1983,
hospice has been fully reimbursable under Medicare part A. Since that time, many private health insurance companies have
followed suit by adding hospice care to their plans of
coverage. Home hospice care can be accessed wherever a person
resides. In addition to the patient’s own home, hospice care
can be provided in a skilled nursing facility, board and care
home, assisted living facility or retirement home.
How many of
your reading this article right now have talked with your family
members about what you want when faced with terminal illness? Do
you have a durable power of attorney for health care in place?
Have you made funeral arrangements? It is very difficult for
adult children to discuss end of life issues with their
parents. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
recommends an “asking permission" approach. Some conversation
openers are, “I’d like to talk about how you would like to be
cared for if you got really sick. Is that okay?,” or “If you
ever got sick, I would be afraid of not knowing the kind of care
you would like. Could we talk about this now? I’d feel better
if we did.” You will.
Sherry
Netherland is available for
seminars for community and professional groups, Corporate
Wellness Programs, or as a keynote
speaker for your organization. |
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