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Some of the most common misconceptions about hospice care involve when it’s appropriate for a patient to elect hospice services and what diagnoses qualify a patient for hospice. People often assume hospice is only for cancer patients, but that is simply not true. You may be surprised to learn that stroke patients also qualify for hospice services.
Strokes are the number five cause of death and a leading cause if disability in the United States. A stroke is defined as a disease that impacts the arteries leading to and within the brain. It occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, causing it and brain cells to die.
The American Stroke Association uses F.A.S.T to help us identify warning signs of a stroke.
If one side of the face is drooping or numb, this can be a common sign of a stroke. One way to help to determine this is by asking the person to smile. If their smile is uneven, that is an indication of face drooping caused by a stroke.
Another sign can be if one arm feels weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both their arms. If one arm drifts downward, it could be a sign of a stroke.
Slurred speech is a third sign of a stroke.
If someone is showing these three warning signs of a stroke, call 911 immediately.
Other signs and symptoms of a stroke can include:
Given the danger of strokes, it’s important to understand the different risk factors, including both those within and out of your control.
Some risk factors of stroke are within your control. These can include:
As with anything else, some stroke risk factors are beyond your control. These can include:
Hospice can benefit patients who are in the terminal stages of a stroke. The following criteria could be indicators that it may be a good time to consider the additional support of hospice.
If you are still unsure if your loved one qualifies for hospice, or if you have any questions about hospice for stroke patients, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
A life-limiting illness comes with a lot of difficult decisions to consider. One of those decisions is when it may be time to consider hospice care. This can be an intimidating decision to make, so we are sharing some tips to help you determine when the time is right.
Hospice is an interdisciplinary approach to end-of-life care. When a patient and their family choose hospice, they are choosing to switch the focus from curative treatment to comfort care. This simply means the goal is now to manage the patient’s pain and other symptoms to keep them as comfortable as possible. Symptoms hospice can help treat include pain, shortness of breath, and restlessness.
Many people think hospice is a place. However, this is not true. Hospice care can be provided wherever the patient calls home, including their own home or a nursing facility.
Patients are generally considered to be eligible for hospice when a physician determines they have a life expectancy of six months or less.
One misconception is that when you choose hospice, you are giving up. This is not at all the case. Hospice is not just about the dying process, it’s about the end-stage of the life-limiting illness, as well. When you choose hospice for your loved one, you are choosing quality of life for them. No more treatments that make them feel sick in attempt to buy them more time. Just focusing on making sure they are comfortable and at peace for whatever time they have.
So how do you know it’s the right time to consider hospice? Below are some of the common indicators:
Remember, these indicators are just guidelines and do not replace a physician’s evaluation. If you think it may be time for hospice, talk to your doctor.
Ohio Valley Hospice offers individualized in-home hospice care, allowing patients a peaceful end-of-life experience in a familiar and secure environment. We provide a full spectrum of hospice services uniquely designed for each patient.
Ohio Valley Hospice prides itself by partnering with the We Honor Veterans Program. We have a team of highly-trained individuals who work with our Veteran patients during their time of need.
Patient services are provided without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (an individual’s sex, gender identity, sex stereotyping, pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions) , sexual orientation, disability (mental or physical), communicable disease, or national origin.
Read our Notice of Nondiscrimination here.
