Recently, someone I follow on social media posted a link to an article entitled, “Why Didn’t the Doctor Tell Us About Hospice Sooner?” With former president Jimmy Carter now in Hospice care, a lot of talk and opinions are being shared in the public forum. That actually is good news. The family in this article was told about Hospice after a year of their mother being told to go to the ER for assessment/treatment: after a year of suffering. Her health declined and her quality of life suffered greatly as a result. Once the daughter was able to sign her mother onto Hospice care, she was given resources and support as she cared for her ailing mother. Why didn’t the doctor tell the family about Hospice sooner? How did Jimmy Carter’s family know that Hospice was a choice?
As the daughter in the article pointed out, there are many options, but, if we aren’t informed about them, how can we pursue them? Who are we counting on to provide these resources? In my opinion, if I am under a doctor’s care and my condition becomes unmanageable, or treatment of my condition runs past all options, I should be able to count on my doctor to tell me about hospice and palliative care. They are not the same thing. How many people know that, or have even heard of Hospice OR palliative care?
It is also my opinion that my doctor and I should be taking time at each visit to discuss what I want for my life regarding treatments and quality of life. I am trusting that medical professional to be a healthcare resource. I also believe I should take some responsibility in learning what’s available, but not all of us feel comfortable navigating the healthcare system and many of us wouldn’t even know where to begin looking for information. The woman in the article has a daughter who was able to get the help for her mother by being her advocate.
Many organizations are working to spread the word about Hospice and palliative care so that patients and families can learn about their choices and options when treatment is no longer part of the plan. Hospice provides so many interventions to support someone at the end of their life. Want to know more? Check out the link below.
What is Hospice? Check this link: https://hospicefoundation.org/Hospice-Care/Hospice-Services