Hospice of the Rapidan:
Planning Ahead Makes End-of-Life Care
a Better Experience for Everyone

by Nancy Walbridge-O'Connell
(Marshall, Virginia)

Mary, Helen and "Dickens" enjoying their visit

Dealing with a terminal illness is one of life’s greatest challenges. Out of fear many families put off facing the inevitable as long as possible. This only adds to the difficulties, as most people do not realize how much difference can be made when these issues are confronted earlier rather than later.

The stresses patients and families face are daunting and families often do not know where to turn to for support or to go to get answers to their questions. While most people have heard of hospice and know it provides medical care and social, emotional, spiritual and practical support for patients and families facing the end-of-life, the word “hospice” is scary to many people. One of the misconceptions about hospice is that it only helps during the last days of a person’s life, which is utterly wrong.

Hospice is most effective when it is brought in as early as possible. The sooner a patient starts hospice care, the more help hospice can provide. First, hospice keeps patients comfortable and pain free, but it can do so much more as well. Hospice helps caregivers learn how to effectively care for their loved one and help the whole family manage the extraordinary stresses they are facing. Families of our patients often comment as much about the time they spend laughing together as they do about the bittersweet aspects of saying goodbye to a loved one.

Mary Kass of Fauquier County, a patient of ours who passed away a few years ago, expressed a sentiment shared by many of our patients.

“When my doctor recommended Hospice of the Rapidan I honestly thought it meant I was going to die in a matter of days. I am so glad I listened to him because the care I have received for the last five months has made such a difference for me.”

Like many, she did not initially realize the breadth of care hospice provides. We were able to make such a difference for Mary because we were brought in early enough to really help. When patients begin hospice care with only a few days to live our ability to make this kind of difference for them is greatly diminished.

Hospice is appropriate when a patient’s medical prognosis is six months or less or when the side effects of curative treatment outweigh the benefits. Hospice is fully covered under Medicare and most insurance, and Hospice of the Rapidan, like many other hospices, never turns away a patient because he or she cannot afford our care, so money is never an obstacle to obtaining this extraordinary care.

So when is it the right time to ask about hospice? Now is the best time to ask questions and learn more about end-of-life care options. End-of-life issues can be difficult to discuss, and it is usually best for families to share their wishes before the need becomes pressing. For more information call us at 540-825-4840, or visit our website at www.hotr.org