Over the last 25 years, the number of Americans turning to hospice for end-of-life care has climbed dramatically–from 25,000 in 1982 to 1.45 million in 2008, as more and more people choose to spend their final days in the comfort of home or a patient facility with a home-like environment rather than a hospital pursuing aggressive treatment.
During the last decade, Medicare reimbursements for hospice have also risen, allowing more hospices to open without relying on fundraising for survival.
The decision to stop curative treatment and enter hospice is never easy, and it comes at a stressful time. Even once the decision is made, arranging for hospice care requires acknowledgment of unpleasant realities, which doctors themselves may hesitate to discuss. This reluctance can put the onus on patients and families to initiate difficult conversations about end-of-life care.
What is Hospice?
Hospice provides support for people entering the final stages of their lives, and their families; the word is a medieval term that describes a brief resting place on a long and difficult journey. According to the official philosophy statement of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, “Hospice affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death.” Instead, it strives to enhance the quality of a person’s remaining life by providing medical care, pain management, and emotional spiritual support.
When hospice first came to the U.S. from England in the 1970s, it was used mainly as a home care program for cancer patients. It soon broadened its scope to include anyone facing a terminal diagnosis. Today, cancer accounts for fewer than 40% of all hospice patients.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the care an elderly loved one is receiving, call Berman & Riedel, LLP today at (858) 350-8855. Our staff will happily provide you and your family with an initial free consultation to discuss with you the rights you may have under California and federal law. To learn more about the firm, visit www.preventelderabuse.com.
