As one draws nearer to their final years and months, it is natural to prioritize quality of life, spending their last months in peace and comfort, being with family and enjoying personal hobbies.

Has your loved one reached this point? If so, you might want to consider hospice care. Hospice care places a focus on patient comfort, allowing patients to live out the rest of their days in peace and relaxation.

Looking for some signs that hospice care is the right option? Here are 6 to consider.

1. Regular Hospital Trips

One of the surest signs that hospice care is necessary is that your loved one is making regular trips to the hospital. And this isn’t in reference to scheduled appointments, but to emergency trips, specifically.

When a chronically sick person is frequently going to the emergency room, that person would be better served by constant treatment and monitoring than by rush trips to the hospital. In hospice care, patients have nurses and doctors available at all hours of the day who can stabilize the patient’s condition, allowing the patient to lead the most fulfilling life possible.

There’s also the issue of comfort zones. When a person is checking in and out of hospitals time and time again, that person is in a constant state of chaos. On the other hand, when a person is in hospice care, that person has a chance to establish a routine and a comfort zone; this is vital for the state of the patient’s mental health.

2. Difficulties Completing Everyday Tasks

Another sign that it might be time for hospice care is if the affected individual is having difficulty completing everyday tasks. This happens as medical conditions worsen, leaving the patient either physically or mentally unable to take care of themselves.

When a person has deteriorated to this point, they are best accommodated by hospice care. By entering hospice care, the affected individual can gain assistance with completing tasks around the house. Plus, their deteriorating health can be monitored closely, allowing doctors and nurses to administer treatment in a rapid and convenient manner.

3. Increased Symptom Severity

Maybe momentary windedness has turned into perpetual shortness of breath. Perhaps a temporary ping in the back has turned into excruciating pain. Whatever the case may be, if the affected individual’s symptoms have increased in severity, they may be well served in hospice care.

Increased symptom severity is generally indicative of a worsening condition. Fortunately, hospice care can facilitate treatment in two ways: 1. It can be used to monitor the condition, ensuring that it doesn’t grow even worse in severity, and 2. It can be used to treat pain associated with the condition, improving the patient’s quality of life.

4. Caregiver Burnout

Are you caring for your loved one as they fight through their condition? If so, you might be familiar with caregiver burnout. Caregiver burnout is a phenomenon wherein a caregiver suffers extreme mental stress as a result of providing extensive care over a prolonged period of time.

If you, as the caregiver, are experiencing negative thoughts and emotions on a regular basis, you might be in a state of burnout. You might even feel resentment toward your ailing loved one (as undeserved as it might be).

This doesn’t make you a monster; it just makes you a human being. It’s stressful to commit your entire life to the care of a loved one, all the while watching that loved one struggle to complete simple tasks. If you can’t do it anymore, you shouldn’t feel ashamed to pass the responsibility off to the professionals.

Hospice medical professionals are well-versed in the care of terminally ill individuals. They can remove stress from the caregiver and provide comfort to the patient.

5. Increased Exhaustion

Another sign that hospice care might be necessary is if the patient is experiencing increased exhaustion. Physical weakness, mental fogginess, and increases in sleep are often indicative of medical issues that are worsening in severity. As such, these symptoms often require constant monitoring.

Hospice care will ensure that the condition is being monitored at all times. Should pain medication become necessary, it will be administered. Should IV fluids be needed, they will be administered.

There’s no need for a person to spend their finals days in anguish. There are resources available to improve one’s quality of life and those resources can be garnered through hospice care services.

6. A Desire to Prioritize Comfort Over Treatment

While treatments for critical illnesses can be effective, they can also place a great deal of strain on patients’ bodies. For instance, chemotherapy can help to eliminate cancer cells, but can also cause the patient to experience severe weakness and nausea.

At some point, many patients grow weary of the stress caused by medical treatments. When this point arrives, they choose to prioritize comfort and quality of life over treatment and length of life.

If your loved one has expressed a desire to stop treatment, it’s time to begin hospice care. Hospice care prioritizes quality of life and will ensure that your loved one spends their final months in peace and comfort.

In Need of Hospice Care in Oxford, MI?

Is your loved one nearing the end of life? In need of hospice care in Oxford, Michigan? If so, we here at Cardinal Hospice are the people to see.

Whether you’re interested in home hospice or inpatient hospice, we can accommodate you. With a full team of caring and qualified medical professionals, we’ll provide your loved one with nothing but the best of care.

6 Simple Signs To Consider Hospice Care For Your Loved One