Trying to decide when it’s time to start hospice can be challenging for many families. Oftentimes, people don’t call soon enough and miss out on the personalized care and resources available for people with a life-limiting illness.

While deciding on hospice is a deeply personal decision, having conversations early on and recognizing some signs can help determine if it’s time. However, not all signs are purely physical. For some, it’s the desire to prioritize comfort and quality of life, something hospice specializes in.

In this blog, we’re highlighting three signs it may be time to reach out to a hospice care provider like Northern Illinois Hospice. 

Your loved one wants to focus on comfort and improving their quality of life

One of the most obvious signs it’s time to begin hospice is when your loved one expresses a desire to prioritize comfort and quality of life. When this happens, they may start to decline treatments and procedures that no longer align with their personal goals and priorities. 

It’s important to understand that stopping treatment doesn’t mean they’re giving up. Rather, they’re choosing to focus on living. During this time, hospice teams can collaborate with your loved one to identify what matters most to them, creating an evolving care plan that aligns with their wishes.

Hospice can help shift the focus toward comfort care, while providing ongoing support for your loved one and their family. Sometimes, patients begin to express interest in spending their time and energy creating meaningful moments instead of pursuing additional medical interventions. 

Having an open and honest conversation with your loved one about what they truly want can help you recognize when it’s time to call Northern Illinois Hospice.

Hospital trips become more frequent and overwhelming 

Frequent appointments and hospital stays can become physically and emotionally overwhelming for your loved one. Talking to them can help determine how they’re feeling about their current treatment plan.

If they’re tired of frequent hospital trips or doctor’s visits, then it may be time to consider hospice care. Once your loved one starts hospice, their team of hospice nurses and other healthcare professionals can manage symptoms and keep them comfortable, reducing their pain and repeated trips to the hospital. 

Hospitals and hospice have different goals when it comes to caring for patients. While hospitals typically diagnose and treat medical problems, hospice focuses on keeping patients comfortable as their goals shift away from curative treatments and interventions. 

This shift in focus allows your loved one to receive specialized care for their life-limiting illness at home, in a skilled nursing or assisted living facility, or wherever they call home. Quality of life matters. Their hospice team has experienced professionals who understand their unique needs and help manage symptoms, working to make the most of every day. 

If your loved one expresses an interest in staying home and receiving ongoing physical and emotional support, it may be time to explore how Northern Illinois Hospice can provide care that aligns with their current needs and goals. 

Your family could benefit from additional support

While living with a life-limiting illness is physically and emotionally challenging, caring for your loved one can also feel overwhelming at times. As their physical health starts to decline and their needs become more complex, providing care on your own may become increasingly difficult.

With the help of the entire hospice care team, they can offer support for your loved one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The collaborative nature of hospice allows you and your loved one to play an active role in their end-of-life care. 

Ultimately, hospice benefits both patients and their families. Your loved one’s team can offer additional education, guidance, and reassurance through the hospice journey. They can help families understand what to expect, provide educational resources to assist caregivers, and communicate your family’s concerns with other members of the care team. 

As your loved one’s needs change, the team can help you feel more confident caring for your loved one. Hospice provides valuable support and resources, so beginning the hospice journey sooner rather than later can make a difference in supporting your loved one’s well-being. Many families say they wish they would have called hospice earlier, so the right care and support were available at the right time. 

Northern Illinois Hospice is here to provide compassionate end-of-life care

At Northern Illinois Hospice, we understand that every hospice journey is unique, which is why each care plan is tailored to the person’s goals and wishes. We take that information and create a team of individuals that can provide compassionate end-of-life care for your loved one. 

As the first hospice provider in the region, Northern Illinois Hospice has been helping people transition to hospice care for nearly 50 years. Our care team provides compassionate end-of-life care to individuals with life-limiting illnesses.

We honor patients and their wishes by providing specialized care that treats the person, not the disease. We offer a wide range of palliative and hospice care to improve your loved one’s quality of life.

Our experienced team of healthcare professionals are here to ensure your loved one’s comfort and support.