Once enrolled with hospice, an interdisciplinary
team consisting of social
workers, nurses, and physicians are
assigned to work together for the
benefi t of the patient. bowdenimages
COURIER LIFE, D M B G EC. 21–27, 2018 41
BY JOANNA R. LEEFER
Many people cower at the term
hospice because of its association
with dying. But this is not
always the case. Although a person
who enters the program shows signs
that he or she is at the end of life, not
everyone who enters into hospice care
dies. Sometimes people “graduate”
from the program. Often, a person who
enters hospice receives enough personalized
care that they are willing to live
longer than originally expected.
Hospice care is intended for people
with six months or less to live. Before
entering a hospice program, a medical
doctor or nurse practitioner must
certify the patient is terminally ill or
is diagnosed as failing to thrive. A person
who is failing to thrive must show
a weight loss of more than fi ve percent,
has a decrease in appetite, and an inability
to be active.
That does not mean a person has to
die in that time span. After 90 days, the
patient is reevaluated. The fi rst two
benefi t periods are 90 days in length,
after that, the recertifi cation periods
are 60 days. A person can continue to
be recertifi ed as long as he meets the
hospice criteria. Hospice nurses and
physicians are specially trained in
pain management, and when they become
involved in a person’s care, the
medical condition frequently stabilizes,
allowing the patient to enjoy life
again.
There are patients who actually
leave hospice. Some people might remember
the story of Arthur “Art”
Buchwald, a prominent humorist
and columnist for the Washington
Post. In early 2006, Buchwald was diagnosed
with kidney failure and required
frequent dialysis treatments
to survive. After several treatments,
he decided to discontinue dialysis,
and checked into hospice care even
though he was warned he would live
only three more weeks without dialysis.
Six months later he checked himself
out of the program, spent a summer
in Martha’s Vineyard, fi nished
one of his books, and continued to
live through October 2006.
Hospice care offers several benefi
ts. One of the greatest benefi ts is
that it is paid for by Medicare, so the
patient does not have to pay. Once enrolled
with hospice, an interdisciplinary
team consisting of social workers,
nurses, and physicians are assigned
to work together for the benefi t of the
patient. Clergy visits are offered if requested.
Even after a death, the team
stays in contact with the family for up
to a year after the death to ensure emotional
needs are met and the family
has adjusted to life without their loved
one.
Hospice allows for some medical
treatments that makes the patient
more comfortable but are not life sustaining.
For instance, a patient can receive
pain medications, but will not receive
treatments for cancer.
A person can select from several
hospice programs. The fi rst step in
fi nding the right program is to ask
your doctor to suggest a service. You
can also fi nd hospice programs by
searching the internet. Before selecting
a program, make sure it includes a
hospice team that is available 24 hours
a day. It should also have additional
services such as friendly visits, massages,
or music programs.
Death is something we all must
face. It is hard to lose a loved one, but
hospice can help make passing a peaceful
experience. Many hospice staff and
volunteers have had family members
who were recipients of this service.
Once they experienced how much hospice
helped them, they wanted to give
that same care to others. They found
hospice a life-changing experience.
Joanna R. Leefer is a senior care advisor,
advocate, and founder of Elder-
CareGiving, a service that helps families
make diffi cult care decision for
aging loved ones. She understands the
regulations covering long-term care,
helps with life transitions, and monitors
care through regular visits. She
teaches advocacy skills to caregivers
and professionals. For more information,
visit www.joannaleefer.com.
Wellness
Understanding hospice care
/www.joannaleefer.com