According to the National Institute on Aging, hospice care is a service for people with serious illnesses who choose not to get (or continue) treatment to cure or control their illness.  Hospice aims to provide comfort and peace to help improve the quality of life for the person nearing death.  It also helps family members cope with their loved one’s illness and can also provide support to the family after the person dies, including help with grieving, sometimes called bereavement care.  Many people with serious illnesses, which may include dementia, cancer, heart failure, and chronic obstructive lung disease, use hospice.  When a physician determines that a patient has a terminal illness, they can consider enrolling them in Hospice.

Elements of hospice care are generally included in a comprehensive estate plan.  For example, a comprehensive will communicate how you would like to be cared for if you were in an accident, taken to the hospital, and couldn’t communicate on your own.  Having a general understanding of hospice care allows you to think more holistically about your estate plan. 

Hospice is paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or a combination of these.  The services can be provided at home, at a nursing home, or at an assisted living facility.  What I appreciate most about the hospice care team is the additional resources they bring.  In many cases, when someone has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, they require a significant amount of support services.  In our case, the woman I care for required more services than the memory care unit was staffed to provide.  With the addition of the hospice team, her support services essentially doubled. 

When a person considers hospice care, it is an intensely personal decision and can only be done in consultation with a doctor.  It may be worth pointing out that if you were to choose to enroll in hospice, you can change your mind.  The services a patient receives are focused on comfort rather than curative care, which is a prerequisite for receiving hospice services.  Admittedly, this decision wasn’t easy for me to make, nor would I imagine it would be easy for anyone to make.  I would encourage anyone faced with a similar decision to consult loved ones and care providers to ensure you receive the thoughts and advice best suited to your situation. 

1. 2.0 _____: Do you feel you have a general understanding of hospice care? Having a general idea of how hospice works allows you to have a more holistic approach to your estate planning process.
2. 2.0 _____: Have you included the idea of a terminal illness or incapacitation in your estate plan? Clearly communicating your thoughts and wishes in a trust or estate plan will minimize the risk of misunderstandings and conflict between your loved ones.

_____: Assessment Grade

RuReady Resources:

1. The Last Chapter Series Organizer
2. The Last Chapter Series Readiness Review and Checklist
3. The Last Chapter Series Resource List

Additional Resources:

1. Hospice Foundation of America (HFA). Is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides programs and resources for professional development, public education, research funding, and information on hospice, palliative care, caregiving, and grief.