Don’t Wait Until it’s Too Late to Talk About Hospice
There are many topics we find extremely difficult to discuss, and hospice care is definitely one of them. We don’t often sit around with family and friends discussing what should happen if we ever require hospice care, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a plan in place. Unfortunately, terminal illnesses can strike anyone at any time and being unprepared can make a difficult situation more stressful.
When a loved one falls terminally ill, it’s likely that family members will have varying ideas on how to proceed without a hospice care plan in plan. Valuable time will be wasted while everyone tries to come to an agreement. As a result, your loved one may end up spending unnecessary time in a cold and clinical setting or an emergency room instead of being comfortable in their own home, surrounded by family.
In the same way that you prepare a Last Will and Testament ahead of time, we recommend that you and your family members create a hospice plan. This should include instructions on what to do if someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Everyone has certain wishes respective to their own situations, and it’s beneficial to the whole family if these plans are established well in advance of ever needing them.
Why it’s never too early for a hospice care plan
- Pain management may complicate things. While many people can enter hospice care from the comfort of their own homes, some people require additional medical support. Rather than stay at home, some people may find it easier to live in a dedicated hospice care community, where staff is available 24/7.
- The faster you’re able to act after a diagnosis, the more comfortable everyone will be. Receiving a terminal diagnosis will affect each member of the family differently. Each person will suggest doing what they think is right. As mentioned above, valuable time slips away when families go back and forth trying to decide the best course of action. Having a solid plan in place will eliminate any difficult and distressing conversations between family members that could lead to conflict.
- It alleviates the feelings of guilt and confusion surrounding important medical decisions. Trying to make important decisions while in a stressful situation is never easy, and feelings of guilt and confusion are very common. Having a set plan in place may not completely eliminate guilt and confusion, but you will have more peace of mind knowing the hospice care plan reflects your family member’s decision and you honored their final wishes.
Hospice care in Cape May County, New Jersey
Being prepared protects you and your family from additional stress, and eases the emotional burden of transitioning a loved one into hospice care. We understand it’s a difficult topic of conversation, but every family member will appreciate having clear instructions should the moment ever arrive when they need to follow them.
Hospice care in Bridges at The Shores provides residents with a tranquil environment where their comfort is top priority. We understand that having a loved one in hospice care greatly affects the entire family, and we have support systems in place to address the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of the whole family. We believe that everyone deserves a dignified and peaceful end-of-life experience, and when you become involved with a community like ours, you and your family will never be alone.
For more information about hospice care at The Shores, or if you have questions about any of our other senior living communities across New Jersey, please contact United Methodist Communities today at: https://umcommunities.org/theshores/contact/
