Family and friends play a crucial role in end-of-life care. While patients have doctors and nurses to attend to their physical needs, the care they provide often feels...
What to Say to a Dying Person
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Hospice
Palliative Care vs. Hospice. What is the Difference?
Palliative care and hospice are presented as separate services when in reality, they offer the same type of support but with different goals. Hospice is given when a...
How Do You Know It’s Time for Hospice?
Hospice begins with an honest conversation between families, patients, and their physician. They need to evaluate the disease process, the patient’s symptoms, and,...
Supporting Families Who Can’t See A Dying Loved One
COVID has put a great deal of strain on families dealing with end-of-life issues. Lockdowns forced many healthcare facilities to close their doors, preventing people...
Recognize Non-Verbal Pain Cues
Hospice care exists in order to improve a person’s quality of life. Key to this is managing pain. Pain affects more than physical comfort. It damages people emotionally...
Creating an Advance Care Plan for Hospice
Creating an advance care plan explains your wishes to doctors, nurses, and hospice workers if you become medically unresponsive. It lets you remain in control in even...
Treating COVID Symptoms in Hospice
In hospice, treating COVID symptoms requires a different approach to care. Unlike acute medical centers, our priority is the patient’s comfort. When families come to...
Adapting Hospice Care to COVID-19
Adapting hospice care to COVID-19 has been a challenge. In order to treat symptoms, hospice workers are required to visit patients where they live. This may be a...
Can Morphine Kill You?
Morphine is one of the best tools a hospice has for managing pain. Unfortunately, myths about morphine harm patients and prevents them from receiving care when they...
How Does Someone Qualify For Hospice?
Often, I am asked, "How does someone qualify for hospice?" The answer begins with an open and honest discussion about the goals of care. In any disease trajectory,...