Jun 16, 2008 2:00 PM  CST  

Patients Live Longer Under Hospice Care 

A recent study published in a recent issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management reports that hospice care may prolong the lives of some terminally ill patients.

Researchers selected 4,493 terminally ill patients with either congestive heart failure (CHF) or cancer of the breast, colon, lung, pancreas, or prostate. They then analyzed the difference in survival periods between those who received hospice care and those who did not.

Among these patients, the mean survival was 29 days longer for hospice patients than for non-hospice patients. In other words, patients who chose hospice care lived an average of one month longer than similar patients who did not choose hospice care, says the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).

I can attest that there’s an inaccurate perception among the American public that hospice means you’ve given up. However, those of us who have worked in the field have seen firsthand how hospice can improve the quality of and indeed prolong the lives of people receiving care.

Researchers cited several factors that may have contributed to longer life among hospice patients. First, patients who are already in a weakened condition avoid the risks of over-treatment when they make the decision to receive hospice care. Second, hospice care may improve the monitoring and treatment patients receive.

Additionally, hospice provides in-home care from an interdisciplinary team focused on the emotional needs, spiritual well-being, and physical health of the patient. Support and training for family caregivers is provided as well. This may increase the patient’s desire to continue living and may make them feel less of a burden to family members.

I think this study reinforces our focus on providing better quality of life for our patients. Too often our patients and their loved ones tell us they wish they had taken advantage of hospice services sooner because of the many benefits the care provides.

 

Source: Covenant Hospice
http://www.covenanthospice.org/

Related Documents:

Content Tags: about hospice care •

 

Other Recent Articles:

Return to the Covenant Hospice Articles Search Page