Hospice care neither prolongs nor hastens death, but provides specialized support during the transition from this life to the next. Most of all, the call for hospice does not signify the end of hope, instead focuses on the quality of life.
No one wants to think about losing someone they love. For that reason, many families delay discussions about end-of-life care. If you are asking yourself when to call hospice, there is a good chance your loved one may already be eligible to receive this specialized care and support.Â
You should call hospice if your loved one is experiencing any of the symptoms below:
frequent visits to the hospital
a decline in their ability to perform daily living such as eating, getting dressed, walking, or using the bathroom
increased falls
progressive weight loss
infections or other signs of deteriorating health
Once it is determined that hospice is appropriate, you will be assigned a specialized team, this team of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, hospice aides and volunteers work together to develop an individualized plan of care to meet your needs. Your personal doctor may also be a part of the hospice team and can remain as your attending physician.
We focus on caring, not curing, and in most cases, care is provided in the patient’s home. Patients are assigned a specialized interdisciplinary team consisting of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual counselors and trained volunteers.
