End Of Life Care

Handling the Difficult Conversations

While it can be difficult to bring up these topics, the conversations can be an invaluable gift to those you love and those providing medical care. This information provided by the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization is divided into three parts:

• How to Talk with Your Loved Ones about Your Wishes
• How to Talk with Your Healthcare Providers
• How to Talk with Others about Their End-of-Life Wishes

In any of these cases, it is impossible to foresee every type of circumstance or illness; therefore, it is essential to think in general terms while making sure loved ones and care providers are aware of one’s priorities. Also, while having these conversations, consider discussing advance care plans, which enable one to plan for and express end-of-life wishes in the event that the patient is unable to communicate. Finally, make sure to reassess these decisions over time with follow-up discussions. It is important to review these issues and decisions, as personal health or circumstances in life might change – along with one’s views and choices.

Keep On Living

Perhaps the biggest misunderstanding – or fear – about hospice care is that it means giving up hope. It does not. Hospice care actually enables patients to live their last days to the fullest, with purpose, dignity, grace and support. It is about bringing the best in physical, emotional and spiritual care to those who are facing the challenges of a life-limiting illness, as well as their families. At Arkansas Hospice, that is our mission. As a nonprofit organization, we also believe that fear of costs should never prevent a person from having access to hospice care, and our patients are cared for regardless of ability to pay.

Always On Your Terms

It is possible that a patient will improve, resulting in discharge from hospice services. Or the patient or caregiver might decide to stop hospice care to seek aggressive, curative treatment. Hospice services can easily be resumed, if needed, at a later time. Hospice services are covered by Medicare or Medicaid, private insurance, private pay or through charitable care. This care is provided to all in need of our services regardless of age, sex, race, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, color, national origin, religion, citizenship status, veteran status, illness, handicap, disability or ability to pay.

If you would like to learn more about how you can help meet the needs of Arkansas Hospice patients and families that are not met by traditional means, please visit the Arkansas Hospice Foundation page. CLICK HERE.