You make very good points regarding hospice. Yet so many people recoil in horror at the idea of going into hospice care.
Isn’t that the last step before death?
Well, no. Not necessarily. Hospice Care includes Palliative Care which is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Patients in palliative care may receive medical care for their symptoms, or palliative care, along with treatment intended to cure their serious illness. Palliative care is meant to enhance a person’s current care by focusing on quality of life for them and their family.
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care
I worked for 30 years as an RN. I’d get patients all the time who came to the hospital and were what is called ‘full codes’ but I’d see they came from hospice care and I’d say ‘why are they here? They were on hospice?’ and then I’d find out the patient’s familys would of course when the patient took a turn for the worst would call an ambulance and try to save their mother’s (or whatever familymember) life. We always did provide something to keep them better, iv fluids, food, antibiotics, pump their health back up. Send them home, after seeing social services and restarting hospice. That is how I know and why I suggest it because it gives the patient a lot of comfort care and it’s all free, covered under insurance. Every six months they review it and of course they want to keep that check rolling in and so many or most of the time it’s renewed. It would be perfect for Jim. Getting the care and then getting better!