Less than 45 percent of dying Americans receive hospice care at home, and nearly half of those are referred to hospice within just two weeks of death.
Hospice was designed to provide end-oflife care, but this is brink-of-death care. As the end of life approaches, there is a lot we can do to make the process of dying safer.
Medical schools must train doctors to assess and treat pain, listen to patients’ concerns and collaborate with patients and families in making treatment decisions, and test for proficiency before awarding degrees. Set minimum standards for palliative care teams within every hospital; routinely publish meaningful quality ratings for hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, home health care and hospice programs for people to use in choosing care. Repeal the Medicare statute that forces incurably ill people to forgo disease treatments to receive hospice care.
For example, someone suffering from increasing pain and breathing problems from attempts to reverse their disease cannot choose a clinical trial and hospice. Only one choice can be made. Medicare does not allow both. This is wrong, and the law needs to change.
As a hospice volunteer, I am privileged to spend time with patients facing the end of their lives. Sometimes, I just sit quietly and hold their hand, read to them, look at photos and listen to their experiences in life and offer a drink of water. Other times I perform Reiki, a gentle and healing massage, or relieve the primary caregiver while they see their doctor, visit friends or take some time for themselves.
It’s a gift that requires no special skills other than a willingness to be present. The feeling of having been even a small part of someone’s most difficult journey is rewarding for me in so many ways.
As a senior citizen, I know that my time will come. I can only hope that I can have the caring and loving attention from hospice and its many volunteers to help me.
John Hanbury
Edison