“I wish we had been referred to hospice sooner.” It’s a sentiment that recurs in patient/family surveys returned to hospices each year. Unfortunately, most people don't receive hospice care until the final weeks or even days of life, possibly missing out on months of quality time. This may be out of fear that choosing hospice means “giving up.” Sometimes doctors fear that their patients will feel abandoned if they suggest hospice.

Experts in hospice care agree that patients need to be enrolled for at least 60 days to take full advantage of a hospice program. Sadly, while hospice care is most effective over a period of months, the 2018 National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Report indicated that nearly 28% of Medicare hospice recipients received services for seven days or less. Here are some of the benefits of timely referral to hospice:

• The patient can participate in all planning and decisions, before the stress of a medical crisis. Early discussions about hospice can facilitate open communication and provide patients and their family members a choice and sense of control.
• Patients and family benefit from sustained relationships with the hospice team. They have time to develop personal and professional rapport with staff and volunteers, discuss end-of-life goals and create an optimal plan of care designed around patient and family wishes.
• Pain and symptoms are addressed sooner, and crises can be avoided.
• Hospitalizations can be reduced or eliminated.
• Advance directives can be prepared to avoid difficult decisions later.
• Hospice services can help a patient and family spend peaceful time together. It offers a comforting alternative when a cure is no longer possible.
• Hospice can eliminate unnecessary calls to 911 and trips to the emergency room by giving families the means to care for their loved one at home and the knowledge of what to expect at the end of life.