I feel saddened by the closing of the Lafayette County Hospice. A very special service is no longer provided by our county. That does not mean, however, that hospice care cannot be provided in our county. Hospice care can, and I hope will, be provided to our county residents by hospices in surrounding counties. In fact it already is, in some cases.
History has shown that families cannot rely on someone else to refer them for hospice care. Physicians sometimes are reluctant to suggest hospice for fear it will take away hope, and that patients and their families will feel abandoned by their health care provider. On the contrary, the opposite is true. Hospice is hope: hope for a better way of living, hope for comfort, hope for support for one's family, hope for accomplishing the things one needs and wants to accomplish in the time that is left, to finish one's business so to speak, to say I love you, thank you, forgive me, I forgive you, and goodbye where those things need to be said. Patients and families have much more support after they become a part of a hospice program than they did before.
Once a cure cannot be accomplished, and an illness is expected to result in the death of the patient within months, not years, hospice is an appropriate option. One needn't be bedridden, or even home bound to obtain hospice services. Care and treatment are given by an interdisciplinary team of caregivers, with the goal of comfort and of living as fully as possible, for the natural span of life with that illness. Death is neither hastened nor delayed by having hospice care. In fact, with the emphasis on living fully, people sometimes live longer than expected when they get into hospice care. Families also benefit from having this kind of care, as they have others to share the care and walk beside them throughout a difficult time. They no longer have the burden of wondering when they should call the doctor or go to the hospital, but rather have the opportunity to call the hospice at any time for appropriate help.
It is so important for patients and families to take the responsibility for getting services appropriate for their needs. If you think hospice may be what you need, talk with your physician, nurse, social worker or pastor. Any would be able to help you find answers to your questions, and a hospice who will provide care if that is what is needed and desired. Do not let the closing of our local hospice mean the absence of hospice services when they are needed.
History has shown that families cannot rely on someone else to refer them for hospice care. Physicians sometimes are reluctant to suggest hospice for fear it will take away hope, and that patients and their families will feel abandoned by their health care provider. On the contrary, the opposite is true. Hospice is hope: hope for a better way of living, hope for comfort, hope for support for one's family, hope for accomplishing the things one needs and wants to accomplish in the time that is left, to finish one's business so to speak, to say I love you, thank you, forgive me, I forgive you, and goodbye where those things need to be said. Patients and families have much more support after they become a part of a hospice program than they did before.
Once a cure cannot be accomplished, and an illness is expected to result in the death of the patient within months, not years, hospice is an appropriate option. One needn't be bedridden, or even home bound to obtain hospice services. Care and treatment are given by an interdisciplinary team of caregivers, with the goal of comfort and of living as fully as possible, for the natural span of life with that illness. Death is neither hastened nor delayed by having hospice care. In fact, with the emphasis on living fully, people sometimes live longer than expected when they get into hospice care. Families also benefit from having this kind of care, as they have others to share the care and walk beside them throughout a difficult time. They no longer have the burden of wondering when they should call the doctor or go to the hospital, but rather have the opportunity to call the hospice at any time for appropriate help.
It is so important for patients and families to take the responsibility for getting services appropriate for their needs. If you think hospice may be what you need, talk with your physician, nurse, social worker or pastor. Any would be able to help you find answers to your questions, and a hospice who will provide care if that is what is needed and desired. Do not let the closing of our local hospice mean the absence of hospice services when they are needed.
