It’s a powerful feeling to have options at the end of life, to be able to make decisions and know that those wishes are being honored.
Hospice is a type of palliative care, which means care that brings comfort, rather than trying to cure.
Studies show that early hospice care can improve quality—and quantity—of life. In one study, patients who chose hospice care lived an average of 29 days longer than similar patients who did not choose hospice.
Here we'll take a comprehensive look at hospice care so you and your loved ones can make well-informed choices about care near the end of life. We'll cover determining when it's time, how to prepare for the hospice discussion and making the decision.
Included in this Info Article from VITAS Healthcare | San Antonio are the essential facts you should know about hospice, such as:
- Is hospice a choice or is it required? Who makes the decision for hospice?
- Hospice can happen anywhere and is a service that comes to the patient.
- Does my loved one continue taking medications while on hospice?
- What's the limit of time a patient can be on hospice?
- The 4 questions to help determine if it's time for hospice
- Plus, an indispensable checklist for when you're ready for the next steps
This Info Article is one of many tools in our Caregiver Toolkit, to gain access to the full kit, visit here.