Benefits of Earlier Admission
Nearly all patients who elect it may receive hospice care once their doctor and hospice certify that they most likely have six months or less to live.
Hospice is not a crisis service for just the last few days of life. It is a program designed to care for the patient and family during the last months of life. An earlier hospice admission allows both patient and family to receive the full benefit of hospice services. Additionally, when pain and other symptoms are effectively controlled, people not only feel better, they have the potential to live a better and more meaningful life.
According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, “The Commission has previously expressed concern about very short hospice stays. More than one-quarter of hospice decedents enroll in hospice services only in the last week of life, a length of stay which is commonly thought to be of less benefit to patients than enrolling somewhat earlier.” (MEDPAC Report, March 2016, Chap. 11)
Our satisfaction surveys show 60% of patients and caregivers said they would like to have been referred to hospice earlier. Earlier referral allows more opportunity to provide meaningful and comprehensive care.
The benefits of choosing hospice earlier include:
For the Patient
- Compassion and dignity with an individualized comfort care plan
- Clinical excellence for pain and symptom management where you live
- Decreased stress levels to positively affect quality of life
- Comprehensive care that incorporates mind, body, and spirit
- Reduction in unnecessary re-admissions to hospital / ER visits
- Help with focusing on and developing personal goals before death
- Preparation and coordination of advance directives
- Reduced stress of traveling back and forth to hospital
For the Patient and Family
- More control of the situation
- Emotional and spiritual support for grief and counseling
- Have closure with everyone together
- Become knowledgeable and comfortable with the dying process
- Achieve peace with pending death
- Expert assistance and time to prepare for personal and financial matters
- Save on expenses for medication, equipment, and supplies related to the terminal condition
For the Family
- Able to observe their loved one in a more comfortable state during a difficult time
- Opportunity to improve the quality of life of their loved one for the time that remains
- Learn to assist in caring for their loved one
- Develop relationship with a bereavement counselor earlier during a difficult time