Why Do Doctors Recommend Hospice Care?

When you go to a doctor, you mainly focus on getting treatment or a cure for your illness. Therefore, when a doctor recommends hospice, it can be difficult to understand. The reality is that doctors want their patients to get the best care possible, and that sometimes means recommending hospice care. Here are some insights from our Bridges hospice in South Jersey.

When Do Doctors Recommend Hospice? 

If curative treatment options are exhausted and no longer work or if a patient no longer wants these treatments, the doctor will recommend hospice care. In order to qualify for this care, they should be evaluated to have six months or less to live. This is not a firm rule however, as it is based on the typical progression of the disease.

How is Hospice Care Different? 

Curative treatments are designed to either slow down or halt the progress of a disease, or to cure a person completely. Hospice care, on the other hand, is about effectively managing the symptoms of the health condition to ensure maximum comfort during the end stage of life. The types of residents we care for include the following two categories:

Residents with Terminal Health Conditions – The unfortunate reality is that some health conditions cannot be cured and, while curative treatments are important for extending the quality and duration of a resident’s life, they will be terminal in the end. Curative treatments can also be very demanding on a patient’s body and well being, and in the event that disease progresses beyond likely recovery, some patients choose to live their last months in comfort rather than attempting further treatments. 

Advanced Age Residents – It is natural for the body to slowly stop working effectively as a result of old age. And, therefore, many hospice residents are older. This care program is invaluable to senior health at the end stages of life and helps to significantly reduce hospitalizations. Expert daily care allows loved ones to spend quality time together and ensures every comfort is met in a peaceful and welcoming environment.

Hospice care isn’t simply about changes in a patient’s medical treatment. It is about treating the last stages of life with kindness, respect, and dignity. It focuses on comprehensive assistance and care that ranges from managing daily tasks and ensuring end-of-life wishes are met to helpful therapies, spiritual support, family support, and even companionship and entertainment. In this way, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are prioritized.

Choose Bridges – Our Supportive, Compassionate Hospice Care Program

At The Shores, a part of the well-known United Methodist Communities non-profit organization in New Jersey, we offer compassionate, professional hospice care in the Jersey Shore area called Bridges. In this program, we focus on creating a nurturing and comforting environment for residents and their loved ones through customized care programs and compassionate support. 

To find out more about our hospice in Cape May County, please visit our website at https://umcommunities.org/theshores/hospice-care-nj/ or contact us today and organize your visit.