Hospice Helps You Transition in Comfort
Everyone deserves the comfort that hospice care provides. Dr. Ted Winneberger, hospice physician, explains how life-limiting illnesses progress, and how the goal of hospice is to help people have as many good moments as possible for as long as they can.
Hospice care transitioning means enjoying every precious moment that is possible.
The truth about hospice is that our goal is to minimize discomfort so that we can help everyone enjoy every moment for as long as they can. We want to keep their symptoms and pain managed when their body starts to fail. Because this is such an uncomfortable time, our goal is to relieve that discomfort for as long as possible in every way we can.
How Stress Affects the Body at The End-of-Life Transition
To fully understand the many benefits associated with hospice care transitioning, it’s vital to review how stress affects all of us and the toll it takes on the body.
Anytime we are stressed, our bodies are forced to use up our energy reserves faster. As a result, stress causes us to lose a lot of energy, leaving us exhausted. However, eventually, our bodies will replace some of that energy with sufficient rest and self-care.
This changes when we begin transitioning to end-of-life. During this period, our bodies lose the ability to replace all the energy that we need.
As a result, we start sleeping more. As stress continues, our bodies will begin to take energy away from non-vital organs in order to keep the vital organs functioning. Stress shortens our lifespan.
Hospice Care Transitioning Is Key to Managing Stress and Actually Living Longer
There are extensive studies that have shown the difference that managing stress can make. For example, if two people have the same disease, and one is in hospice and the other is not, research has shown that the person in hospice will actually live longer because we manage the symptoms that are causing stress.
Stress Management and Hospice Care Transitioning Make You More Comfortable
Managing and relieving pain and discomfort means that your body isn’t undergoing as much stress. The result is that our patients have more energy.
This energy means they’re able to create and enjoy new, precious memories of special moments. We’re giving them more energy to do the things they’d rather be doing. Maybe that means a visit with family and friends, or perhaps checking an item off their “bucket list.”
The goal of hospice care transitioning is to help ease the end-of-life journey. That’s why you refer your loved one to hospice—you want them to get the most out of the time they have.
Individualized Care to Help Create More Pleasant Moments
We want every single person in hospice to have as many good moments as possible, for as long as possible.
But we understand that everyone is different. They have different needs, different diagnoses, and different goals for their hospice care transition. We treat every single patient as the individual that they are.
This means every patient has a tailored hospice care plan that relieves discomfort and stress while minimizing the amount of medication to just what they need…and no more than that.
Hospice Cares for the Whole Family
We also address family needs. We are always aware of the role that family and loved ones play in the end-of-life transition. That’s why we work hard to enable your family to create as many memories as possible to get the most out of these moments.
We also offer extensive support for those who have lost a loved one through grief care.
Questions About Hospice Eligibility? Simply Contact Us
We hear the statement over and over:
“I wish I had contacted hospice sooner…”
We want you to know and understand if you or a loved one qualifies for hospice care. By starting hospice earlier, you create a space where stress and discomfort are expertly managed, freeing you and your family to enjoy the time that is left.
So, if you have questions about hospice care transitioning or whether or not you or a loved one is hospice-eligible, just call our number, 800-733-1476, and let us know. We’ll be happy to come out, talk to you about it, and take time to address any concerns you may have. We’ll let you know if you or your loved one qualify for hospice and how we can help ensure a less stressful and more meaningful transition.
