When is Hospice Care Needed?

At Santé, we believe terminally ill patients and their families should live as fully as possible during the end of life. That’s why we provide quality care when it matters most. Hospice care is tailored to the patient’s needs and typically assists with pain management and emotional support. Although it can be difficult to talk about end-of-life care, families should have this discussion long before it’s needed. Though every patient is different, the following scenarios may require hospice care.

Doctor’s Recommendation

Typically, hospice care begins upon the recommendation from the patient’s doctor. When a doctor recognizes that treatment should move from curing to caring, they will recommend hospice care. If you’re questioning the decision or unable to come to terms with the doctor’s recommendation, it’s important to ask questions, like:

• Where will the patient be staying? Hospital, home, or hospice facility?
• How does the hospice staff respond to emergencies?
• Will my loved one be in pain?
• Will my family have a say in the type of care provided?
• Is hospice care covered by Medicare?

The doctor and other caregivers are important members of your care team. Recommending hospice care is not easy for anyone, but it’s done with the utmost respect and love for the patient and their family.

Terminal Diagnosis

Receiving a serious or terminal diagnosis typically means hospice care may be needed in the future. Some diagnoses include, but are not limited to:

• Heart Disease
• Kidney Disease
• Stroke/Coma
• Dementia/Alzheimer’s
• Respiratory Failure
• Cancer

It’s important to know that hospice care is not synonymous with dying. With a terminal diagnosis, death may not occur for months or even years. In fact, hospice care is much more beneficial when started sooner rather than later.

Family Decision

A family member can make the first call to hospice. Know that the patient’s doctor will need to approve hospice care, but he or she is not always the one to recommend it. Patients, family members and caregivers should all be involved in the decision to bring in hospice care. At the end of the day, it’s about making sure a patient feels comfortable and loved. Researching hospice care upfront is helpful later when emotions may be running high.

Santé Hospice provides a comprehensive and compassionate range of services. We recognize that each individual’s needs are different, so we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We use an interdisciplinary approach to address the treatment of mind, body and soul. To ensure our patients receive a compassionate continuum of care, Santé Hospice is available throughout Maricopa County. For more information, please call 480.748.4300 or click here.