The Directory 2023-2024

S e rvice s

When to consider Hospice continued from page 25

surroundings with friends and family. Th at home may also be in senior living or a long-term care community. When is it time for hospice? It starts with a person’s primary physician. If the doctor determines that a person is terminally ill and has six months or less to live, the doctor will usually recommend hospice. If not, you can request it. It means there is no viable cure for the illness and now the focus changes from cure to comfort for the patient. Death is not an exact science. Some people may die sooner while others may live well past the six-month projection. Although rare, some people improve to the point where they no longer need hospice care. It’s important to know that hospice does nothing to hasten death nor to slow it down. It’s allowing nature

to take its course while keeping the patient comfortable and pain-free. Hospice brings comfort at the end of life to patients and families. Hopefully this information makes it easier to talk about this part of life. Th e most common regret often shared with me is, “I wish we would have gotten involved with hospice sooner.” Hospice care is covered by Medicare Part A, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies. Editor’s note: Th e author, Mary Marcoux, CT, MDiv, MA, has been working in hospice for almost 30 years. She is a certi fi ed Th anatologist in death, dying, and bereavement and currently serves as the Bereavement Coordinator and PRN Chaplain for Brookdale Hospice in Bloomington.

A doctor, certi fi ed in hospice and palliative medicine, heads the team of nurses, aides, social workers, chaplain, volunteer coordinator, and bereavement counselor who provides follow up for families for a full year. Th e team may also include a music and massage therapist, and consultants such as a pharmacist or dietician. To provide additional comfort, necessary equipment may also be provided such as a special bed, mattress, or wheelchair. Hospice is not a place. Although there are private residential hospices, and some hospitals may have a designated hospice unit, hospice is a service. Given the choice, most people prefer to remain at home in familiar

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