What Is the Hospice End-Of-Life Process Like?
When you or a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness and given a short life expectancy, it’s an emotional time for the patient and everyone involved in that person’s life. Hospice services focus on treating the patient, not the disease, and making them as comfortable as possible during the stages of dying. Hospice care uses a combination of symptom management, bereavement counseling, and therapy to help improve one’s quality of life and prepare them for what’s to come. The following timeline is a general guide for what to expect with your loved one and hospice care during the stages of dying.
Each Experience Is Different
Everybody experiences the stages of dying during hospice care in their own unique way, but there are some similarities you may be able to expect throughout the process. Should the patient begin to lose their appetite, sleep more often, and withdraw from others, don’t be too concerned. This is a normal part of the end-of-life process. Hospice professionals are experienced in the signs and symptoms as the end nears, so communicating with your hospice team about any concerns can be helpful.
Several Weeks Before Passing
As we mentioned prior, loss of appetite, increased sleep, and lack of social interaction are very common occurrences for patients. Family members will also experience mixed emotions when their loved one begins to avoid social interaction. This is when spiritual and bereavement counseling from hospice becomes a valuable resource for both the patient and the family. During this time in hospice care, the stages of dying may also present weight loss, nausea, body pains, and infections.
The patient may also need increased care and assistance when eating, bathing, dressing, and with other daily tasks of living. Hospice care increases as the stages of dying progress so you can step back as caretaker and focus on making your loved one as comfortable as possible. They may not be interested in eating solid foods. Instead of trying to force them to eat, offer liquids and ice chips. You may also need to inform friends and family that the patient may not want to receive visitors anymore.
Routine Hospice Care
At this time in hospice care, patients in the stages of dying usually receive routine care. A hospice worker will be available during periods of the day to administer medications, help with light housework and meal prep, and provide symptom management. When the patient resides within their home, family members typically play roles as caregivers as well. If the patient resides within an assisted living facility or nursing home, staff members of the facility will provide extra assistance as needed.
Days Before Passing
In the days before your loved one passes, their pulmonary system will start to degrade and their breathing patterns will change. While this is painless, they may start to cough more often. Other physical symptoms can include a drop in blood pressure, varied sleeping patterns, patches of discolored skin, changes in bowel movements and urination, and increased temperature swings. They may also experience hallucinations in which they see and talk to people and things that aren’t there. This may seem alarming, but many hospice care patients at the end stages of dying report seeing family members and friends who have passed before them. Some find solace in the idea that their passed loved ones are helping them through the process of death.
One Day Before Passing
The physical symptoms they have been experiencing will become more pronounced at this end stage of dying. Hospice care workers may be able to help you become aware of this progression. Your loved one will likely sleep for most of the day and may have trouble interacting with people. Sometimes patients will experience chest congestion and difficulty breathing with a drop in blood pressure.
Though it may be difficult to communicate with them, speak to them with your normal voice level, as their hearing abilities haven’t changed. Offer them small amounts of water or ice chips because they may have a hard time swallowing. Sometimes patients can experience bursts of energy and be restless during this stage of dying. Your hospice care workers will help keep them calm and reassured.
Hours Before Their Final Departing
Your loved one’s body will begin to shut down and they may experience outbursts or unresponsiveness when you try to communicate with them. They might also have more hallucinations, glazed-over eyes, a weak pulse, and cold hands during this end-of-life process. Hospice healthcare professionals will do their best to make your loved one comfortable so you can be by their side to provide a loving presence as they pass.
Continuous and In-Patient Care
At any point in the end-of-life process, hospice care may advance to continuous care or in-patient care should the patient’s symptoms become unmanageable or if a medical crisis happens. During continuous care, the patient is cared for by nurses around the clock in their home until their condition has stabilized. In-patient care is when the patient is moved to a hospital or hospice facility to receive constant care until they are able to return home.
Respite Hospice Care
Caring for a terminally ill loved one is very taxing on family members. You may lose sleep, become fatigued, and get overwhelmed by emotions. This is commonly known as caregiver burnout during a patient’s stages of dying. Hospice care professionals are available to give you a much-needed break with respite care. Respite care lasts from 1-5 days and gives you a chance to rejuvenate yourself or attend special events like weddings. Hospice workers will provide 24/7 care for your loved one.
A & H Hospice was founded by experienced hospice nurses. We provide compassionate and excellent care to residents of Southern California. Your loved one deserves high-quality care from empathetic professionals. Our goal is to improve the patient’s quality of life as they enter their final days. Contact us today for a free consultation about our hospice services.