Hospice Care: Support for Living in Lifes Final Stage

Hospice | Supporting Life in Its Final Chapter

This message is sponsored by Optum Palliative Care. The views expressed are my own.

Recently, my father and I discussed the impact hospice care had on our family when my grandmother was unwell.

Facing death is an inevitable aspect of life that everyone must confront.

It doesn’t have to be faced in a cold, clinical setting surrounded by unfamiliar faces.

For over 40 years, hospice care has existed, yet there remains a significant need for information regarding hospice services, advance care preparations, caregiving, and grief.

That’s why Optum Palliative Care actively backs the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s “Moments of Life” initiative. This campaign aims to inform the public about their options when confronted with a life-limiting condition and emphasizes that choosing hospice should not be viewed as giving up.

Through hospice care, my grandmother was able to return to my father’s home, allowing her to maintain a semblance of normalcy. The nurse consistently visited, taking the time to check on her condition, chat with us, and even arrange prescriptions for us to collect. Whenever we had concerns or urgent questions, help was merely a phone call away.

With hospice support, Nanny could awaken to my father’s cheerful voice, attend family events such as weddings and reunions, relish cozy moments on the couch watching our favorite shows from my childhood, get her hair styled, and enjoy shopping trips—all while relying on oxygen tanks for assistance.

The hospice nurses were absolutely wonderful. They brought kindness, patience, and compassion to their visits, significantly alleviating not only my grandmother’s anxiety but also easing the burden on us as caregivers.

During this phase of life, hospice care shifts the focus from curing ailments to ensuring comfort, allowing patients to be with their families in their final months, weeks, or even days.

Choosing hospice is not about giving up.

My grandmother peacefully passed away in her sleep, in her own bed, enveloped in joy, serenity, dignity, and, above all, love.

This brief video shares heartfelt narratives from patients, their families, and caregivers, demonstrating how hospice facilitates a greater experience of ‘living’ during life’s last chapter.

For further details on hospice care, please visit  www.momentsoflife.org.