As older adults approach the end of their life, it can be difficult for care partners to provide all of the care that is needed. Hospice can help.
What is Hospice?
Hospice is special care for people who are in the last few months of life. Care is provided by healthcare providers with special training. They can provide care at the person’s home. Or, they can give care at a hospice center. Hospice focuses on the whole person, including their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The goal is to keep the person comfortable in the last months and weeks of their life. This helps a person to enjoy the remainder of their life, and also supports caregivers.
What Hospice Can Do
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When is it time for hospice?
A doctor can help decide if someone is at the end of their life, and ready for hospice. A person can choose hospice if they have been told by a doctor that they have six months or less to live. They do not have to be bed-bound to get help from hospice. It is better to start hospice care sooner, rather than later. It can improve comfort and pleasure for both patients and their families. Most insurance plans, including Medicare, will pay for hospice care. The older adult’s doctor can give comfort care along with the hospice staff.
When is hospice not a good choice?
Hospice is not for patients who want to continue treatments that aim to cure the disease, such as chemotherapy. In that case, palliative care may be better. Palliative care can help support seriously ill patients and their families at any stage of illness.
Important Conversations
Talking about the end of life can be hard, but it can bring peace of mind and reduce stress. In some cultures, people think talking about death will invite it sooner. But these talks make it possible for the person to have the kind of care they want, where they want, and have any special wishes granted.
Topics for Important Conversations
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Legal Documents Everyone Should Have
Everyone should have a few important documents (paperwork). These documents help caregivers when the older adult can no longer make decisions. Documents are different in each state. It is important to make sure the older adult’s documents are legal in their current state of residence.
Type of Document
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What It Does
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Power of Attorney
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Names one person to manage your personal affairs and money when the older adult cannot.
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Medical Power of Attorney
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Names one person to make medical decisions when the older adult cannot. An alternate person can be added.
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Mental Health Power of Attorney
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Names one person to make mental health decisions when the older adult cannot. An alternate person can be added.
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Advance Directives / Living Will
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Details what kind of medical care the older adult wants and covers things like whether they want CPR.
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Will
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States what the older adult wants done with their money and belongings after they die.
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Useful Websites
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Written by: Jane Mohler, NP-c, MPH, PhD and Lisa O'Neill, DBH, MPH, University of Arizona Center on Aging