When Is it Time for Hospice?
Most people don’t choose hospice soon enough and report that they regret missing out on the specialized support available to patients and their loved ones.
“The healing begins for the person and family when hospice comes in. Having skilled professionals attending to mom’s every need was humbling. But they were so good at it, they allowed us to relax and just be a family again, which is what we needed most,” Ivie, son of an Alive hospice patient.
We can help sooner than you think
Many people simply don’t realize that hospice care is *not* just for the final days of life. Patients are eligible as soon as their life expectancy is six months or less. That means hospice care is available for several months and often lasts even longer. In some cases, the extra care enables patients to live longer than expected while experiencing a better quality of life.
Family members may fear that choosing hospice means “giving up” on a loved one. But the truth is, most of the families who come to us say they wish they had come sooner. That’s because the support they receive from our care teams takes a huge weight off their shoulders, letting them concentrate on just being together again. Our teams are experts at patient care, providing comfort and relief from symptoms. They also support the entire family.
We provide education on caregiving, 24/7 face-to-face support when questions arise, counseling, spiritual support and more. Every team includes a doctor, a nurse, an aide, a social worker and a chaplain. Our two residences provide round-the-clock care when needed, including times of respite for at-home caregivers. Every loved one also has access to our Grief Center and counselors who specialize in bereavement. We even offer programs for children and for different types of losses.
You won’t find this level of support anywhere else. Alive is the only nonprofit hospice in Middle Tennessee, and the support we receive from the community allows us to offer services that go above and beyond Medicare requirements for hospice.
Hospice care is covered by most insurance. Let us help you make the most of your precious time together.