Gary Barg, Editor-in-Chief
One of the greatest challenges new family caregivers face is that our preparation to join our loved ones care team is traditionally started with a middle of the night emergency phone call. And almost immediately upon hanging up the receiver, we need to thoroughly understand everything about the kinds of services they will need, such as long-term care, care management, respite and hospice.
Yet, in the case of hospice care, so many times the ones in need of education turn out to be our doctors. I actually do understand the conflict that some doctors feel with regards to recommending hospice care. They may think of it as a personal failure or surrender of their duties to heal their patients. In fact, nothing could be further than the truth, when hospice is required, it can be the best medicine possible for their patients.
Yet, there is one more step necessary for our doctors to consider when hospice care is the right diagnoses and that is to not abandon their patients and family members.
A study conducted by Anthony Back, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, showed that there is more that needs to be done when hospice care is instituted.
Back and his co-authors interviewed 31 doctors and 55 of their patients, all of whom had incurable cancer or advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and were expected to die within a year. They also interviewed 36 family caregivers and 25 nurses. According to their study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, abandonment was a significant issue to family caregivers and their loved ones.
This makes so much sense, as the best relationship we have with our loved ones doctors is when they act as our guide or Sherpa through the horror that can be the healthcare system. And it is at the end of this journey when the smallest act of kindness from them can mean the most. Although nobody is busier than today’s doctor, a phone call to a family member of a patient in hospice care can be the best medicine he or she can offer. And just possibly, also bring a much needed sense of closure to them as well.
Share your wisdom about caregiving and hospice in the comments below.