You may have heard former U. S. President Jimmy Carter, age 98, has entered home hospice in Plains, Georgia to spend his remaining days with family and forego additional medical intervention.
What is hospice care?
Many people have questions about hospice and whether it’s the right choice for them. In truth, the decision to enter hospice, whether at home or at a medical facility can be difficult. It typically means you are in your last six months of life and that you would like medical care that will keep you comfortable, but not prolong your life. Patients are given medication to reduce pain and suffering to enhance their quality of life in their remaining days.
“It incorporates an entire spectrum of care including physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs and it really focuses on the individual and the family,” said Zach Vercauteren, System Director of Hospice Services at SSM Health at Home, in a recent radio interview. “The median length of stay nationally is 18 days.”
How are patients cared for?
Patients are typically cared for by family members, with supervision from hospice doctors, nurses and social workers. The team is there to support the patient as well as family members, in everything from physical symptoms to logistics related to burials and funerals.
“We can provide these services in a number of locations. It’s really us going to the patient. It could be in their own home or a nursing facility, whether that’s a skilled nursing facility, assisted living or group home,” said Vercauteren. “Anywhere the patient resides, we go to them.”
Who is eligible?
SSM Health at Home’s hospice care serves those with a limited life expectancy, living with conditions including, but not limited to:
- End-stage heart, lung, liver, kidney, or pancreatic diseases
- Cancer
- Some neuromuscular diseases, such as Lou Gehrig's or multiple sclerosis
- AIDS
- Other life-limiting conditions as determined by a health provider
Who can make a referral?
A referral may be made by the patient, family members, friends, health care provider, clergy or other agencies. After referral, an SSM Health at Home registered nurse will contact the patient’s health care provider to see if hospice care is appropriate. Once our hospice medical director reviews the referral and determines a patient is eligible, an SSM Health at Home employee will contact the patient and family to explain the program and see if they are interested in SSM Health at Home’s hospice care services. Hospice admission can then occur.
The hospice movement during Carter's presidency
We don’t know what led to President Carter’s decision to enter hospice care, but we do know he has been treated for metastatic skin cancer and injuries from falls. The hospice movement got it’s start in the United States in the 1970’s during his presidency and was modeled after programs in the United Kingdom.
