Signs That Hospice May Be Right

We often avoid conversations about hospice, but the one thing we keep hearing from families is, “we wish we had started hospice care sooner.” It’s easy to understand why we hear that. Hospice isn’t for the last few days, it’s for the last months - six months, and can even be recertified for additional periods of time. Families should not have to forgo the pain and symptom management, or reduced hospitalization rates that hospice care brings. Even life expectancy improves when people receive interdisciplinary hospice care. It should be no wonder that patient and family satisfaction rates with their healthcare are higher when families experience hospice care.

Determining if, or when, hospice care might be needed for you or a loved one is a personal decision. Some of these common signs may indicate that hospice care could be the right choice:

1 - You have been hospitalized or to the emergency room several times in the past six months

2 - You have been calling your physician more frequently

3 - You are taking medication for pain relief

4 - You are spending most of the day in a chair or bed

5 - You have fallen several times over the past six months

6 - You have difficulty swallowing

7 - You feel weaker or more tired than normal, or you are sleeping more

8 - You don’t have an appetite and you’ve been losing weight

9 - You need help bathing, dressing, eating, getting out of bed or walking

10 - You are short of breath, even while resting

11 - Your doctor told you that your life expectancy is six months or less

12 - You’ve decided that you don’t want any more treatments to cure your illness

13 - There are no further treatments available, and you want to focus care on comfort and relieving symptoms

Overcoming the fear of hospice

The end of life is something we rarely talk about, and many of us avoid the subject entirely. It’s only natural, we almost have a flinch factor about end-of-life issues. But as we, or a loved one, approach the end of life we deserve the best and most appropriate care that is available. Though we may have never traveled this journey before, there are those amongst us who have. The experience of Ascend’s hospice staff is invaluable. Here are a few points to consider to help us overcome our fears.

1 - We may equate hospice with giving up. It is not, it’s a way to provide comfort and alleviate fear. It may be the most beneficial thing anyone can do.

2 - We may hesitate, afraid to accept that treatments are not working. There comes a time when curative treatments provide no benefit and potentially increase suffering.

3 - We may believe that hospice is only for cancer. It is not, it helps with many serious illnesses.

4 - We may believe that hospice requires a DNR, it does not.

5 - We may believe that hospice hastens death, it does not. On average people receiving hospice care live longer than those that do not.

6 - We may believe that hospice is a place to go to die. It is not, most hospice care is delivered wherever we call home, whether a residential setting or a facility.

7 - We may believe that we will lose our own doctor. We will not, our physicians remain as involved as we would like them to be.

8 - We may believe that hospice is for the last few days of life. Hospice is for the last six months of life and can be recertified for additional periods afterwards.

9 - We may believe that once hospice is chosen that there’s no turning back. We are free to leave hospice care at any time to seek alternative care options.

Remember that the decision to choose hospice care is your personal choice. It should support your values and goals for care. Your doctor's role is to provide information and guidance to help you make an informed decision that best meets your needs and wishes. Learn more here or contact us to learn more.

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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.