Hospice is a form of healthcare that concentrates on pain and symptom control at the end of life, whereas palliative care aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals with severe illnesses, regardless of whether they are undergoing curative treatment or not. Recognizing the distinction and determining when to prepare for these advanced care choices should be a crucial aspect of everyone's life path.
Advance care planning is crucial for the well-being of individuals, their loved ones, and healthcare providers.
Advance care planning empowers individuals and families to create healthcare plans for the future, guiding healthcare providers when a person cannot make their own decisions. Most of us have experienced the benefits of advance care planning in helping our loved ones grieve more easily and reduce feelings of burden, guilt, and depression.
A few years ago, a colleague's brother suffered a seizure which caused him to aspirate and subsequently go into cardiac arrest. Emergency personnel were able to bring him back, but not until irreversible brain damage had already occurred. Subsequent tests confirmed his family’s worst nightmare, and the decision was made to honor his wish to be an organ donor. While the family’s anticipatory grief grew, they were able to take comfort after every update that a recipient had been identified. His brother’s suffering was not in vain, and the family was and is so proud of his strength and selflessness.
Having an advance care plan with directives, documents, and medical care instructions can reduce uncertainty and provide emotional support when making care decisions.
Advance care plans, including a living will and durable power of attorney, guide decision-making based on patient preferences when communication is not possible. A durable power of attorney for health care designates a proxy to make decisions if you are unable to do so, in conjunction with or in place of a living will.
Palliative care can start at any point during a serious illness, with hospice care being a component tailored for end-of-life patients. An advance care plan can help avoid rushed decisions at this stage.
Discussing an advance care plan is best done before someone requires hospice care - this because the healthcare sector has not effectively educated individuals on when hospice should be introduced.
It is important to think about creating an advance care plan proactively, rather than waiting until it is urgently needed. This plan can assist family members in making decisions regarding future medical treatment in alignment with one's beliefs and objectives. Gaining knowledge about advance care plans, opting for palliative care, hospice services, and other aspects of end-of-life care can be highly beneficial, especially when the need arises.
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