At Butte Hospice one of our goals is to educate and raise awareness of the importance of hospice care. However, deciding when it’s time for hospice is the most difficult challenge. When making this decision, there are some common signs. It’s usually not just one indicator, but multiple. Some common signals that it might be the right time for hospice include:
- Multiple ER visits or hospitalizations, especially for urinary tract infections (UTI) or upper respiratory infections.
- Shortness of breath or fatigue at rest or with minimal exertion
- Oxygen dependent or increased oxygen use
- Profound weakness or patient is bedbound
- Advanced cancer or any condition where there is no further treatment or therapy available
- An individual who decides “I’ve had enough,” in dialysis or other treatments
- Patient does not wish to pursue any other treatments for their condition
- Decreased appetite
- Nutritional issues where a person cannot or will not feed themselves
- Unexplained weight loss, usually 10% of body weight in past 6 months
- Psychosocial Factors such as withdrawal or lack of interest in activities or hobbies
- Hospice is about living the life the way you choose, so when someone is reluctant to return to the hospital or pursue treatment, it should be considered when making healthcare decisions.
As we discussed previously, there is a misconception that hospice speeds up the dying process. This just isn’t true. We’ve seen many patients stabilize or even improve after starting hospice. It’s very common for a patient to stabilize or improve, where hospice will discharge them because they “graduated” and no longer qualify. Education is important, and when you’re caring for a loved one, it’s never too early to learn about your options when it comes to hospice care. Butte Hospice is here to assist with this for patients and families every step of the way.
Dr. Charles Garretson is an Internal Medicine Specialist based in Oroville, California. He graduated with honors from Marshall University School Medicine in 1987. Having more than 33 years of diverse experiences, especially in Internal Medicine, he specializes in cardiovascular & pulmonary diseases and pulmonary disease. Dr. Charles Garretson affiliates with many hospitals including Oroville Hospital, Enloe Medical Center, and Orchard Hospital. He is currently the Medical Director at Butte Home Health and Hospice.
