Time for Hospice? What to Know for Stroke and Other Conditions

How do you know when to set up hospice care for a patient near the end of life? When do you need to start thinking about the future, getting “affairs in order,” and settling end-of-life arrangements? No two patients experience identical symptoms. However, certain signs to watch out for indicate it’s time to think about hospice and discuss what will need to be done during and after this final chapter.

Signs It May Be Time for Hospice Care

Whether or not your loved one may benefit from hospice care depends on whether their condition is worsening and the severity of their symptoms. But hospice advocates say patients rarely take advantage of the benefits of the care, with enough time to let them experience those positive aspects sufficiently.

Common myths and misconceptions about hospice may discourage those who could benefit from its care. According to the CaringInfo website, only about half of those who are eligible take advantage of its many benefits.

According to the Hospice Foundation of America, “Hospice care is not just for people who are bedridden or in their last day of life.” The group says patients and families can benefit from hospice for months as long as they are medically eligible.

Patients are less likely to undergo tests or be given medication they don’t need or want while on hospice, according to the National Institute on Aging. And those patients are “more likely to have increased family satisfaction and better symptom and pain management,” the NIA explains.

Medical Signs to Consider When Choosing Hospice

According to the HFA, there are other signs to weigh when considering hospice, regardless of illness or ailment. Consider hospice when the patient:

• Is at the end stage of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
• Along with the family, they value living more comfortably
• Has increased pain, weight loss, extreme fatigue or weakness, or shortness of breath
• Has suffered a significant decline in physical or cognitive status
• Has a life expectancy of six months or less

It’s not always easy to accept that your loved one may not be getting better. However, studies have shown that in many cases, it may be beneficial for the patient and their family alike to seek specialized end-of-life care sooner, rather than later, whether that means hospice care or simply going the extra mile to ensure they are comfortable and well cared for at home or in a hospital.

Some patients improve while on hospice; some even leave hospice because of the improvement and can return later.

Above all, it’s important to talk to your loved one’s healthcare provider about what they think is best. Only they can provide specific, knowledgeable insight into their current status and prognosis.

When to Begin End-of-Life Planning

In addition to determining the care your loved one will receive going forward, it’s equally important to be prepared for the future. Do you know what their wishes are regarding their end-of-life care? Have they compiled important facts, paperwork, and legal documents to make those wishes known? Is there a plan for handling the financial and organizational responsibilities of making funeral arrangements, like cremation, burial, or a memorial service?

Start Planning Early When Loved Ones Can Participate

It’s ideal to speak directly with your loved one about such decisions well in advance of severe illness. Legal documents like advance directives, living wills, and power of attorney are invaluable to have in place. However, because health challenges so often come as a shock, many do not have a chance to have this conversation beforehand. And, if your loved one’s health is in decline, they may no longer be capable of making or voicing such decisions for themselves. If this is the case and there are no advance directives, it will be up to you and other close family and friends to determine what is best for them. It’s worth investigating who the legal next of kin is before they have to step into action, because that person is legally authorized to make decisions, including funeral arrangements.

When making funeral plans, you do not have any way of knowing specifically what your loved one would prefer. Talking to friends and family about what they think can be helpful. Remember that there is no one right way to say goodbye. What matters is that the choice you make feels right to you and your loved ones.

When Planning for the Near Future

When a loved one enters hospice, it can be overwhelming to think about the future. It may feel like it is “too late” to discuss choices.

However, it is best to involve your loved one to the extent that they can participate in planning for their finances, healthcare, and funeral or memorial arrangements. The Conversation Project is a helpful website providing information on difficult conversations. At Tulip, we also have advice on how to talk to your parents about planning, among other helpful resources.

As challenging as it may be now to think about what you’ll do when your loved one is gone, it is often much more challenging to make such choices after a loss.

Cremation Planning with Tulip

Whether you are making plans for a loved one or yourself, Tulip offers these helpful prepaid direct cremation and other cremation planning tips.

Tulip’s direct cremation service includes transportation, preparation, simple cremation, and the return of ashes for an affordable price with no hidden fees. With Tulip, you can make arrangements for whenever you need our care: immediately, within the next six months, or sometime in the future. Call our Family Care Team at (844) 942-4909 to begin arranging or to find out more, or visit our website to arrange online anytime.