Pain and symptom management involves the use of medications and other therapies, such as massage, acupuncture and aromatherapy, to bring comfort. Symptoms may be disease-related, such as pain, shortness of breath or sleeplessness. Or they may be side effects of treatment, such as nausea from chemotherapy.
Things to consider about this option:
Hospice care focuses on quality of life rather than the length of life, with the goal of comfort. It is a holistic approach combining medical care, auxiliary therapy and mental health support, and can involve the family in the process. Hospice care usually involves a team of professionals including doctors, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains and others. Services may include nursing care, medical supplies and equipment, home health aide services, respite services (relief for the caregiver), medications to manage symptoms, and spiritual support.
To qualify for hospice, a doctor must estimate a prognosis of six months or less. Typically, treatments intended to cure the illness or extend life are not available once a person enters hospice care. If an individual wishes to pursue this type of care, he or she may be required to end hospice services. A person can go on and off of hospice as needed.
Surprisingly, evidence indicates people sometimes live longer once they make this transition from curative to palliative treatment. Through the Medicare Care Choices Model, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services also provides an option for Medicare beneficiaries that allows them to continue curative treatments while obtaining palliative care. This is available through a limited number of hospice providers.
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Often, as death nears bodily changes can take away appetite. For some people, the decision to voluntarily stop eating and drinking, meaning declining food, liquids and artificial feeding, shortens the dying process.
Things to consider about this option:
Treatments for health conditions or to prolong life, such as use of a ventilator, a feeding tube, IV hydration, antibiotics or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), can be refused or stopped at any time. Sometimes, more treatment is helpful, but it can also prolong the dying process and increase suffering without improving quality of life.
Things to consider about this option:
Sometimes called terminal sedation, this option involves being medicated to reduce consciousness. Typically the person remains unconscious until death. At the same time, all nutrition and fluids are stopped. Sedation may bring some relief for extreme pain and suffering. However, it may not totally relieve symptoms.
Things to consider about this option:
Medical aid in dying is a safe and trusted medical practice in which a terminally ill, mentally capable adult with a prognosis of six months or less to live may request from his or her doctor a prescription for medication which they can choose to self-ingest to bring about a peaceful death.
Things to consider about this option:
Visit our Plan Your Care Resource Center for more information.