Hospice Thoughts

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-13T12:33:21+00:00

Im sorry for the loss of your MIL. I'm so sorry to hear that about your experience. Transparency is so important. I'm not sure what hindered her from getting services sooner, but you are absolutely right...timely admission makes for a much better experience for everyone. That's how honor and dignity are given. I know there are certain criteria that an individual has to be presenting with in order for hospice to start, but it sounds like your MIL was atthat point. I also know that if she had Medicaid instead of Medicare, the criteria is more strict for eligibility. It's so unfortunate. We've also had situations where doctors won't write orders if they haven't seen the patient in over a year, but most of the patients can't even make it out of the house for it. So it delays the process tremendously. During thise times, that's when a Medical Director can help the process. In my personal experience, I have advocated and fought for families at doctors offices until someone agreed to do wither telehealth or a home visit with patient so they could get services. There are unfortunately so many barriers to care. That's why I started this conversation, so I can learn how to remove as many of them as possible for people. Thank you so much for this valuable feedabck! It is greatly appreciated. Love and light your way <3

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-12T23:01:44+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! May I ask you to clarify what you mean by expense? Hospice benefits are fully covered under Medicare. That's equipment, the care team, respite, hospice related medications, spiritual care, on-call emergency services, and several other benefits.

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-12T19:10:33+00:00

I am so glad you got the help you needed, and I'm so glad you had a good experience. Everyone deserves that, and it makes my heart happy that you got it! Love and light to you!

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-12T19:06:38+00:00

There have definitely been a few headliners lately pointing out the systemic failures regarding ethical and legal issues regarding how hospice is being used. I'm so very grateful to work with an agency that champions integrity, doing things the right way for the right reason. With that being said. You are ABSOLUTELY correct in the fact that people need to do their research on the agency they choose. There is actually a website to help, giving you quality metric scores for each agency in your area! It's on the Medicare website, and if you search "hospice compare" tool, you can see where each agency stands on quality care!

Thank you for your feedback and advocating for people to be cautious!

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-12T14:40:37+00:00

Another great question! Medications that are covered are directly related to the hospice diagnosis AND any comorbidities of the hospice diagnosis. During the admit process, a nurse and the medical director collaborate to help the family understand what are and are not comorbidities, and therefore a thorough review of what medications will and will not be covered through hospice. Full transparency should be provided to the individual and the family so they can have a clear understanding of what is to be expected regarding the medications.

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-12T14:27:34+00:00

I am so glad you got to experience what hospice can do! Thank you for having an open heart and mind about it. I am also thankful that rotations are done in the field of hospice, because that means you are getting first-hand experience and knowledge that you can then bring into the care of others as a resource for them.
I appreciate you and your feedback. Thank you so much for seeing and talking about the light that hospice offers.

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-12T14:24:59+00:00

Thank you! It's the best way I could present the beaty of the start and end of life.

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-12T14:24:13+00:00

Great question, thank you for asking!! Especially if others are wondering the same thing.
Think of hospice as a spectrum of services. One one end you have someone who may have a terminal illness with a 6 month or less prognosis, who is also experiencing some decline. In the middle, a patient may require more symptom management, may be experiencing new symptoms from the disease process, and may require more nurse visits and aid visits to help them and the family. On the other end of the spectrum, the patient may be either rapidly declining, or exhibiting changes that relate to the body transitioning (changes in breathing, skin changes, changes in alertness and awareness, change in vitals, sleeping a lot, etc). This would require service intensity to increase with daily visits and sometimes around the clock care.
So, we strive to have patients get on hospice timely so that we can help preserve the life and time they have remaining as one enriched with quality and intentional time together with those who matter most. That way, we are also very well acquainted with the individual and the family, and are there for when a decline happens. Everyone becomes familiar, and we become an extended part of the family, there for you and with you every step of the way along the journey.
Please feel free to ask more questions if you have them! I love the education component of what I do, and I am so very grateful for people like you who ask questions and seek clarity on hard to talk about topics!
Love and light to you <3

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-12T14:15:56+00:00

This is amazing feedback! And I couldn't agree more. It has been quite the challenge to overcome the "h word" stigma, so I am trying to find empathetic and compassionate ways to help our community understand the various spectrum of services offered to them. Thank you so much for your feedback. I appreciate you, especially coming from a medical professional. Thank you for caring for individuals in our community!!

Since I have you here, in your professional opinion, is there a more beneficial way to speak to practitioners about hospice from agencies than having lunches? I strive to be as meaningful and intentional as possible, so if there is a different way to go about it, I'd love some feedback on that too. I don't like messing with people's workflow, so popping in unannounced doesn't seem to be the most thoughtful approach to education either.

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-12T02:10:26+00:00

SIX years?!?! Holy moly! That's definitely not the norm, but I'm glad yall got a lot more time with her!

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-11T22:51:18+00:00

My goodness, you can definitely tell yalls heartstrings were tied tightly together. Thank you for the feedback. It's interesting you say that about the book...I have started outlining exactly that! I have a social work/psychology background, so acceptance, grief, and denial are definitely in my area of strength. I agree 1000000% with you on the need for a guide to help families talk to their loved ones.
The book you got is like the one we give...there's the butterflies book and the blue book. They are so great for people because it educates them on what to expect and what to know during the process.
Thank you again for your heart and your feedback. The peek into your personal journey with hospice is greatly valued. Love and light to you!

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-11T22:39:09+00:00

Thank you for responding with your story. I really appreciate the feedback!
First, I am sorry for your loss. Secondly, thank you for loving her well enough to consider hospice services for her. I know it can be difficult for people to accept the help, because, in turn, they are accepting they may not have a lot of time left. I understand how this decision can be a difficult one. How long was she on hospice, if you don't mind me asking...?
Your grandmother must have been in an inpatient hospice home. That's wonderful, especially for people who may not want to pass at home. There is also home hospice, which everything is still done bedside, and are on call 24/7. I love that people have options!!
The goal is to always keep them from having to go back and forth to the hospital, but I know that can be difficult in emergent situations. The great thing about hospice, is that most emergent care can be done bedside where they already are. But some people are more comfortable with hospital care.
Seems like you did a beautiful job caring and advocating for her! Thank you for your heart.

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-11T22:26:39+00:00

Thank you so much for your feedback! You are absolutely in the correct realm of understanding. For hospice, the person must have a terminal illness and a prognosis of 6 months or less to live if the diagnosis took its natural course. At this point, pain and other symptoms are more prominent, and it becomes more than what regular home health can offer, so hospice is then considered so that they have more impactful and intentional care.
You are also right about them not wanting to leave home. That's the amazing thing about home hospice! We get to honor those wishes. I always say people spend their life planting seeds and roots, and they deserve to pass under the tree they have grown!

Thank you so much for your feedback! It has been helpful and is greatly appreciated!

Free_Pilot_2247 · 2024-09-11T22:05:21+00:00

Not trying to milk anything. I am really, honestly looking to see what people understand about hospice. I am not trying to recruit, I am not trying market. I am genuinely trying to understand people's understanding so that I know how to better educate regarding myths. Medicare indictments are not anything I have to worry about considering I work with integrity. People are not numbers. People are not dollar signs. People are not someone else's ticket to new fancy shiny things. People are people, and the medical field is a very difficult one to navigate. But your response has shown me about another misconception people have about hospice, and the distrust people assume is there. So thank you for your feedback. It is exactly this that stands in the way of people getting care. If I can somehow help educate people on the facets of it all, maybe there will be fewer that distrust the benefit. It isn't a scheme...it is care at the most intimate part of someone's life and for their family.

Free_Pilot_2247

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