5 QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN LIVING WITH A SERIOUS ILLNESS

April 3, 2023

April 16th is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. It is a day dedicated to helping everyone talk about and plan for important healthcare decisions.

 

These conversations are important for many reasons, there may come a time when you are unable to speak for yourself and become unable to make important decisions regarding your healthcare wishes. Not having your wishes known puts a difficult and emotional strain on your loved ones as they try to decide what you would have wanted. Physicians are left in the dark with no guidance on how to respect your wishes.

 

An important topic that Ascend Hospice encourages you to include in your planning are conversations on what would matter to you if you are living with a serious life-limiting illness. Sharing  your wishes, preferences and goals with your loved ones and healthcare providers will help ensure you receive the care you want. 

 

Here’s 5 questions to consider when living with a serious illness


1.  How much medical treatment am I willing to undertake to extend my life?

Consider which is more important, more time or more quality of life. Do you want physicians to do everything possible to extend your life even at the cost of quality of life?

 

2.  Who do I want to be involved in my medical decisions?

Consider who you want to be involved in medical decisions. It will be important to name someone who can make medical decisions for you, if you cannot in the future. Having someone close to you travel this journey with you will provide much needed comfort, support and even advocacy to ensure your wishes. But remember, what you share and what your healthcare team shares is up to you. If a loved one accompanies you on doctor visits let your providers know what they can and cannot speak about in front of them.

3.  How do I want others to treat me?

Often people decide not to share their serious illness with others because they do not want to be treated differently. It can help to be honest with others and share how you want to be treated. Do you prefer not making your illness the center of conversation? Do you feel people care more when they ask about how you are doing? Do you want others to give advice, information and share resources? Do you simply want everyone to stop sharing what they found on Google? Do you want people praying for you? Do you prefer to be treated as if you are not living with a serious illness or do you find comfort in others' concerns, expressions of love and offers of support?

 

4.  What do you want for the future?

Think about what you do want, and what you do not want. Examples might include: I want to be comfortable and free of pain, I want to be surrounded by loved ones, I want to focus on quality of life, I want to be at peace spiritually, I want to pass at home.


Also think about what you do not want to happen. Examples might include: I don’t want to pass in a hospital, I don’t want to be in the ICU, I don’t want aggressive treatment, I don’t want to keep going to the ER, I don’t want to be in a lot of pain, I don’t want my family burdened by decisions.

 

5.  What are your sources of hope, strength, comfort and peace?

Living with serious illness is also an emotional journey, especially at the end of life. At the end of life people often reflect. You may have questions about the meaning of life and begin to think about your spiritual needs in new ways. Spiritual support can greatly enhance your wellbeing.

 

Making your wishes known is important and empowering. It is important to educate yourself on available healthcare options while you are living with a serious illness. But it's also important, even if you are currently healthy, to consider what you would want in the future if you were diagnosed with a serious illness. Planning ahead helps ensure that you or your loved ones won't be tasked with making decisions during a time that is already stressful and unsettling. Many people don’t fully understand options like hospice or palliative care that focus on reducing symptoms and increasing quality of life.

 

Explore our website and care support options to gain insights on choices that can help you live with illness today and help guide your decisions for the future.

10 ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day

April 28, 2025
Losing a mother is never easy, and Mother’s Day can be an emotional time. Honoring her memory in meaningful ways can bring comfort and keep her spirit alive. Here are ten thoughtful ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day: 1. Visit Her Resting Place Spend time at her gravesite or memorial, bringing fresh flowers, her favorite items, or just sitting and reflecting on her love and legacy. 2. Cook Her Favorite Meal Prepare a dish she loved or a recipe she passed down. Sharing a meal in her honor can be a comforting way to feel close to her. 3. Write Her a Letter Express how much you miss her, update her on your life, or share a special memory. Writing can be a powerful way to process emotions and keep her close. 4. Light a Candle in Her Memory Lighting a candle in her honor can be a quiet, reflective way to feel her presence and express your love. 5. Look Through Old Photos & Videos Take time to revisit cherished moments by flipping through photo albums or watching home videos . It’s a beautiful way to celebrate her life and legacy. 6. Do Something She Loved Whether it’s gardening, painting, reading, or taking a walk in nature, engaging in her favorite activities can be a meaningful tribute. 7. Make a Donation in Her Name Give to a charity or cause she cared about . It’s a wonderful way to extend her kindness and make a difference in her honor. 8. Create a Memory Book or Scrapbook Compile photos, letters, and stories into a scrapbook or digital memory book that keeps her spirit alive for future generations. 9. Plant a Tree or Flowers in Her Honor Planting something in her memory can be a lasting tribute, symbolizing growth, love, and the continuation of her legacy. 10. Spend Time with Family & Share Stories Gather with loved ones to reminisce, share stories, and celebrate the love she gave. Keeping her memory alive through storytelling can be healing and uplifting. No matter how you choose to honor your mom, the most important thing is to celebrate the love and impact she had on your life. We hope these 10 ways to honor the memory of Mom this Mother’s Day helps readers celebrate this Mother’s Day. Also read here about surviving the first Mother’s Day without Mom .

12 Important Things To Understand About Hospice

February 27, 2025
Our expert care enriches life by controlling symptoms and managing pain, while also caring for the mind and spirit. Hospice often becomes a choice when you or a loved one is seeking relief from frequent emergency room visits or are physically or emotionally tired of challenging treatments that no longer have a positive impact on life expectancy or quality of life. Serious illness affects more than just a loved one. So, our support extends to family caregivers . We become an extra layer of support by sharing our experience and resources to ensure that you and your loved ones feel prepared by knowing what to expect as illness progresses. We also help you feel less overwhelmed by sharing in some of the responsibilities of the day-to-day care of your loved one. We also understand the worry that comes with serious illness. When a loved one is living with a serious illness, a price can’t be put on peace of mind. Here 12 things that are important to understand about hospice. 1 - Hospice is a philosophy of care that treats a person rather than the disease. Hospice is a complete and cohesive program of medical care and emotional/spiritual support to improve the quality of life for patients facing a life-limiting illness. 2 - When treatment is no longer effective or desired, hospice care can be provided for pain relief and symptom control , along with emotional and spiritual support for patients and loved ones. 3 - Hospice care takes a holistic approach focusing on both physical and emotional health. 4 - In most cases, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and helps make decisions for their loved one. 5 - The caregiver works with our team to develop a plan of care to provide treatment, support, and personal care. 6 - Your physician remains in charge of the overall medical care, we become a part of his team. 7 - Hospice isn’t giving up. It’s finding comfort and dignity after you’ve been told nothing more can be done. 8 - You are free to leave a hospice program at any time for any reason without penalty. You can re-enroll in a hospice program any time that you meet the medical eligibility criteria. 9 - Medications and medical interventions are used regularly to control pain and symptoms. 10 - Hospice patients live an average of 29 days longer than those that do not receive hospice care. 11 - Hospice care is provided anywhere your loved one lives, including private residences, assisted living communities, and long-term care facilities. 12 - Our care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance companies. We understand that choosing to stop curative treatments and begin care and comfort services can be overwhelming. If you have questions like ' is now the right time’ or if you wonder ‘when will the right time be”, you can call and speak to one of our clinical directors. An Ascend nurse or social worker can meet with you and your family members and provide information on all of the services available to you. Once you are ready your physician, our team of nurses, our medical director, and our chaplains, social workers, and aides will be with you and your family on every part of your journey ensuring that your care and comfort are our first priority.