Gary Barg, Editor-in-Chief
I will fearlessly learn all I can about my loved one’s healthcare needs and become an integral member of his or her medical care team.
This week’s discussion of Fearless Caregiver Manifesto Principle Five dovetails perfectly with a conversation we had at a recent Fearless Caregiver Conference.
The conversation in question was about how challenging it is at times to get our loved one’s doctors to consider hospice care when necessary. So let’s review the facts:
What is hospice care?
Hospice is a philosophy of care. It treats the person rather than the disease and focuses on quality of life. It surrounds the patient and family with a team consisting of professionals who not only address physical distress, but emotional and spiritual issues as well. Hospice care is patient-centered because the needs of the patient and family drive the activities of the hospice team.
Where is hospice care provided?
Hospice is a concept of care. Not a place. In fact, the majority of hospice care in the nation is provided at home, but hospice can be provided in hospitals, stand-alone facilities or even in penal institutions
Why is it sometimes a challenge for doctors to consider hospice care?
I am afraid too many caregivers and even physicians don’t consider hospice soon enough when necessary. And I can tell you firsthand just how important hospice can be—not only for your loved one’s care, but also for your own peace of mind.
According to the Harvard Medical School, physicians may delay bringing up hospice for a number of reasons. For one thing, doctors are committed to conquering disease, so referring a patient to hospice can seem like a sign of medical failure on their part. Many say they don’t want to take away a patient’s hope. Physicians may also fear losing contact with their patients, not realizing that they can and should be a part of the hospice team.
A few pertinent questions to ask your loved one’s doctor:
- What are the chances that the treatment plan prescribed for my loved one will be successful?
- What are the risks to my loved one from the treatment plan?
- What are the chances that it will help improve my loved one’s quality of life?
- Does my loved one’s condition fit the qualifications for hospice care?
- Have you considered such care? And if not why not?
One of the first and most important concepts to learn as a Fearless Caregiver is that we are in fact an equal member of our loved one’s care team. Sometimes, it is up to us to make sure we can get our professional partners past their misinformation and even their fear to help them deliver the best possible care for our loved ones.
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