Hospice care is designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families during the end-of-life journey. But how do you know when it’s time to consider seeking hospice care?
In this blog, we will explore signs indicating when to call hospice. This information will help you make informed decisions and provide the best possible care for your loved one.
When To Call Hospice: 5 Signs To Look For
When a loved one is facing a life-limiting illness, it can be difficult to know when it’s time to call hospice. Here are some signs you can make yourself aware of so you know how to best support the person you love and care about.
1. Decline in Physical Health & Increased ER Usage
When a loved one’s physical health declines despite medical interventions, it may be time to consider hospice. This can include difficulty with daily activities, frequent hospitalizations, and worsening symptoms. When symptoms worse, often times, people go to ER. Often times, the disease is not treatable, and your symptoms won’t go away. ER usage tends to be a band-aid.
2. Increase in Pain
If your loved one’s pain is not adequately managed by medication or other treatments, hospice care can provide specialized pain management to improve their quality of life.
3. Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss
When someone begins to lose their appetite and experiences significant weight loss, it can be a sign of a declining health condition. Hospice can provide nutritional support and guidance to help manage these symptoms.
4. Frequent Infections
If an individual is experiencing frequent infections, it may be a sign that their body cannot fight off illness. Hospice can provide care and support to manage these infections and prevent further complications.
5. Decline in Cognitive Function
When your friend or family begins to experience a decline in cognitive function, such as memory loss or confusion, it can be a sign of a progressive illness. Hospice can provide specialized care and support to help manage these symptoms for the remainder of their life.
Signs Hospice Could Be Beneficial: Chronic Illnesses
If someone has a chronic illness or disease, such as cancer, dementia, COPD, or cardiovascular disease, they could show specific signs and symptoms, indicating hospice could be a beneficial next step.
Cancer
- Cancer has progressed to an advanced stage.
- The patient experiences significant pain that’s difficult to manage.
- The patient experiences significant, debilitating fatigue.
- The patient experiences difficulty breathing.
- The patient experiences significant cancer-related weight loss and/or loss of appetite.
Dementia
- The patient has difficulty with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
- The patient is experiencing significant weight loss and loss of appetite.
- The patient has increased confusion and memory loss.
- The patient experiences increased difficulty with communication, making it challenging to express their needs and desires.
- The patient is falling victim to frequent infections.
COPD
- The patient with COPD is experiencing frequent hospitalizations.
- The patent is having a dramatic decline in physical function.
- The patient is experiencing a significant loss of appetite and weight loss.
- COPD-related fatigue is debilitating and affects the patient’s ability to perform daily activities.
- Breathing is becoming increasingly difficult for the patient.
Cardiovascular Disease
- The patient is experiencing severe and chronic heart failure.
- The patient with CVD is experiencing frequent and increased hospitalizations.
- The patient is declining in physical function, making it difficult to perform daily activities.
- CVD-related fatigue and weakness are progressing, making it debilitating for the patient to perform daily activities.
- The patient requires more intensive pain and symptom management.
West Michigan Hospice Is Here for You
Discovering it’s in your loved one’s best interest to look into hospice care options can be very emotionally challenging. If you need help, you can turn to West Michigan Hospice. Our team specializes in quality-of-life comfort care, and we’re here to manage your loved one’s chronic symptoms so that you can focus on making more precious memories with them. For more information, contact our knowledgeable team today.