It’s an all too common situation. A family is at the bedside of a loved one who is seriously ill and nearing the end-of-life. Each member of the family has a different idea of what should be done and what the patient would have wanted.

Hospice professionals routinely work to inform, educate, and bring awareness to options for end-of-life care. On April 16th, people across the country join this initiative by participating in National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).

The Conversation Project, the organization responsible for NHDD’s management notes, “National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. NHDD is an initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.”

By waiting too long to learn about possible options like hospice care, people often difficult days in the hospital or the emergency room and lose opportunities to be with loved ones at home.

It’s always too early, until it’s too late.

It’s never too early to discuss hospice care. Learning about hospice before end-of-life care becomes an immediate concern reduces stress and anxiety for patients and families. Because advanced care planning can be overwhelming, Caris Healthcare provides professional expertise and necessary information to make sure patients and families are comfortable with their care choices.

Hospice provides comfort care and symptom control for patients with life-limiting illnesses. The primary goal of hospice care is to promote comfort and dignity through the alleviation of physical, emotional, and spiritual discomfort. Hospice treats you, not the disease.

Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement explains hospice care best, “You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.”

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization created a revised decision making tool specific to COVID-19 for end-of-life preferences. Click here for more information.