Facing one’s death or the death of a loved one is often frightening. Enduring the symptoms of one’s illness, debility or disease can be worsened by the conditions of the health care system. These conditions may be crowding, insufficient care, over medication or a highly technology-focused environment. Such a setting leads to stress for both the patients and their families, leading the last days of life to be less than meaningful or peaceful ones. Hospice or palliative care can diminish the pain of dying both physically and emotionally.
People used to live shorter lives. The rate of accident or illness at a younger age was much higher. Now people live longer and more often die of a prolonged disease than a sudden ailment. Many adults are faced with deciding how to care for their terminally ill parents. Only a low percentage of family members feel capable in terms of time and ability to care for their dying loved one. The patient is too sick to stay at home alone or be in a retirement community, but hospital care is not the best choice either. Hospitals are more effective places for short term illnesses. If the disease has a longer term progression, then a hospice is likely the best choice for the patient’s quality of life and his or her most dignified death.
Where Is Hospice Care Given?
Hospice care can be provided by nurses at the patient’s home. Or, more often, it is offered at a funded facility. These facilities accept small numbers of patients. They are decorated comfortably, with bright walls, soft furniture, art, and televisions and fridges available to patients and their families. The families are encouraged to visit regularly, even outside of typical visiting hours, and to bring whatever they think would make their loved one happier.
What Else Is Offered At Hospice?
Once a patient is admitted to Hospice care, he is no longer subjected to batteries of tests, intrusive medical interventions or other approaches that anticipate a cure. Instead, he is acknowledged and accepted to be dying. As a result, his last days of life are approached with respect. He is offered as much pain relief as he requires as well as other elements of comfort such as ice packs, heating pads, and warm drinks.
The patient is not treated as a child, but as an autonomous individual, capable of comprehending his own needs for care. Further, the family is treated as equal members of the care team and consulted by staff regarding their loved one’s best interests. When the patient dies, the family is given time with him. Their wishes for the ceremony and burial are respected as well.
How Can Hospice Care Be Improved?
An influx of funding is required to enable the government to construct more hospices across Canada. Currently only a limited percentage of patients can access this valuable service. The lack of well funded hospices means an overcrowded health care system. It also leads to patients feeling that they’ve lost control over the course of their lives in their last crucial days.
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