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Hospice Care of the Northwest Benefits
Understanding Fear
Fear is universal in all human beings; we all experience it. How we react to it can differ in many ways. We may be anxious, angry or depressed, or may deny that we feel it. When faced with our own death, or that of a loved one, many emotions surface. We can often be immobilized by our fear of loss of life or loss of what we have come to know as comfortable. Through the process of exploration and understanding the "what" and "why" causing our fear, we can enable ourselves, learn effective coping skills and lift the weight of overwhelming situations.
Be Informed
Knowledge is power when making difficult decisions. Once a terminal diagnosis (illness with no known cure) is determined, physicians must review treatment options. These include either a curative approach (treatment to cure) or palliative approach (treatment for comfort) with the patient and family. After thorough discussion, the right to accept or refuse those options should be acknowledged and carried out as requested.
Common Concerns
Physical and emotional issues surface at this delicate time. Patients may express concerns about finances, treatment options, quality of life and family adjustments in addition to concerns about their own perceptions regarding how fate and faith tie into what has happened.
Suggestions for People Diagnosed with a Terminal Illness
Write down questions, no matter how simple, about the terminal diagnosis and possible treatments and discuss them with your physician.
- Discuss your views regarding your life and future expectations.
- Involve as many support people as you are comfortable with.
- Discuss estate planning with your family and an attorney.
- Explore alternative healthcare options.
- Try to identify possible family conflicts as early as possible.
- Leave a legacy. Share your feelings, memories, expectations and values with your loved ones.
Advanced Directives (Power of Attorney, Living Will)
Physical and emotional issues surface at this delicate time. Patients may express concerns about finances, treatment options, quality of life and family adjustments in addition to concerns about their own perceptions regarding how fate and faith tie into what has happened.
Hospice
Hospice Care of the Northwest provides peace, comfort and caring to terminally ill people and their families. Hospice is dedicated to ensuring that you, or your loved one, die with dignity and without pain or discomfort, either in the home or nursing home. The hospice professional team, which consists of your personal physician, the hospice physician, nurse, certified nurses aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers and other therapists as needed, develops an individual plan of care for each patient and their family.
The need for hospice care is evaluated on an ongoing basis by the hospice staff, physician and patient. Hospice provides physical, emotional and spiritual symptom management and focuses on ensuring the best care and quality of life for the patient who no longer desires aggressive treatment or procedures. Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance usually cover the cost of hospice services.
For additional information about any of the issues raised in this article or special services provided through hospice, please call Hospice Care of the Northwest Hospice at (877) 263-7776.
Hospice is hope
Not hope of cure, but hope that the patient will be pain free;
hope that the patient will be with family; hope of dying with dignity and living each day as fully as possible.
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