November is National Hospice and Palliative Care month, a time to raise awareness in the community about the compassionate care that hospice offers to patients and their families coping with a life-limiting illness.
Hospice serves patients wherever they live, including nursing homes and residential care facilities.
By working together, hospice (with our expertise in end-of-life care) and facilities (with expertise in geriatric care) can offer the best possible care to patients at the end of their lives.
Research has shown that hospice care in nursing facilities also offers reduced hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and improved pain and symptom management. There is greater patient and family satisfaction when hospice partners with nursing facilities, and studies have shown that even nonhospice patients have better care experiences when hospice is in a facility.
Nearly 1 in 4 deaths occur in a nursing facility. Despite this, only about 6 percent of patients who die in a nursing facility elect the hospice benefit. The low participation rate may be based on a misconception that hospice hastens a patient’s death.
Hospice allows patients the choice to die with dignity and respect, consistent with their values and beliefs. We help patients experience the best quality of life for as long as possible. In fact, some studies have shown that many patients on hospice live longer than similar patients who did not opt for hospice care.
Anyone who is experiencing a life-limiting illness in a nursing facility or residential care setting and who want to focus on comfort care and quality of life should contact a hospice program in their area or talk with the social worker at the facility.
Terri Petroulis is hospice facility liaison nurse for HealthReach Hospice, Gardiner
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