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Earlier this year, the Carter family announced former President Jimmy Carter had elected to receive hospice care following a series of hospital stays. Yet, just last week, the family announced President Carter is still “very much himself,” and that the family is making plans for his 99th birthday in October.
You may be thinking, “I thought hospice was for people who are dying. How is President Carter still receiving hospice care over six months later?”
“While patients are eligible for hospice when they choose to forgo curative treatment and have a life expectancy of six months or less, it does not mean they only have six months left to live,” said Dr. Timothy Jessick, Chief Medical Officer for SSM Health Post-Acute Care. “Hospice patients can be recertified and receive care as long as they continue to meet eligibility requirements.”
In fact, research shows not only does hospice improve quality of life, but it can also increase length of life. A Journal of Pain and Symptom Management study showed hospice patients lived an average of 29 days longer than those not receiving hospice care. And a study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported hospice patients were happier, more mobile, in less pain, and lived nearly three months longer.
This is why electing hospice sooner rather than later is so important. Hospice care provides patients with symptom and pain management, emotional and spiritual support, and the ability to remain at home if that is their goal. Not only does the hospice team work to make the patient comfortable, but they also support the patient’s loved ones throughout the process.
Researchers from the School of Medicine at Yale University found patients experienced substantial relief of their most distressing symptoms after hospice began. Symptom management can go a long way in ensuring patients can remain at home. While the vast majority of Americans prefer to remain at home, less than half of Medicare patients died at home in 2015.
“It is a privilege to be able to provide hospice patients and their families the exceptional and compassionate care they deserve,” said Dr. Jessick. “SSM Health at Home’s hospice team members are experts in end-of-life care. They meet patients and families where they are and provide care based on each person’s unique values, needs, and concerns. We are honored to accompany patients and families on the hospice journey.”
Unfortunately, many people never have the opportunity to experience all that hospice care can offer. In 2020, less than half of Medicare patients who died were enrolled in hospice. In fact, the median length of hospice care for Medicare patients was only 18 days, with 25% receiving service for less than a week. In addition to the positive impact on quality of life, research also shows that hospice care reduces health care costs.
We hope that seeing President Carter and his family benefit from hospice care helps to assuage the fear that often surrounds end-of-life conversations and inspires others to seek out information about hospice. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as they walk the hospice journey together.
SSM Health at Home can provide information to anyone interested in learning more about how our services can help. We can meet with patients and families to discuss how our team of hospice professionals can be there for you and your family. We can also discuss other services that can help support those who do not qualify for or are not ready for hospice. Learn more about how SSM Health at Home can be there for you.
