Every so often a person comes onto hospice service and their condition improves. When a person’s condition stabilizes hospice takes them off the program until they begin to decline again. How great is that?

I think one of the reasons people are so hesitant to enter the hospice program is because by doing so they have to acknowledge that death is approaching. We have to let go of the idea that other people die but certainly not me or anyone close to me. Hospice is known to care for people who are dying. Actually, hospice cares for people who are LIVING their final challenge. If people would come on to hospice service earlier there would be more people “graduating” from the program to live a bit longer.

How does improvement happen? A person may have been in pain from their disease progression and hospice, being the expert in pain and comfort management, addresses the pain and reduces it. Life looks better, is easier, and their condition stabilizes. Hospice care involves nutritional recommendations, emotional support for patient and family, and generally neutralizes the fear that people have surrounding approaching death. Everyone relaxes a little and the patient’s condition stabilizes.

When hospice care enters, families no longer feel alone. There is support during one of the biggest challenges in life. Some people do stabilize for a while when they enter the hospice program. Truthfully, most don’t. Most people continue their decline toward death. When hospice professionals are by their side, families have education and guidance to counteract the isolation and fear that is otherwise present.

Something More... about What do you do when the hospice patient improves?

Caring for our special person at home can be overwhelming. We need help navigating care and making decisions. My guidebook provides valuable knowledge and guidance with advance directives, funeral plans, signs of approaching death (what to look for and what to do), but also how to care for ourselves as we give so much to our person. By Your Side: A Guidebook for Caring for the Dying At Home won’t take away the sadness you carry, but it will give you the confidence you need during this challenging time.